THATTA: The First Additional Sessions Judge, Mohammad Islamul Haq Arain, presiding over the Model Criminal Trial Court of Thatta, has ordered immediate removal of the Gharo SHO and action against his eight subordinates in a habeas corpus case of a 14-year-old boy.
The boy, Mehboob Mallah, was recovered from the lock-up of the Gharo police station in a recent raid conducted by a court official. He was found handcuffed and fettered. The raid commissioner also found that no entry of his detention was made in the roznamcha.
The judge ordered the Thatta SSP to remove SHO Ayaz Bughio and take action against him and his eight subordinates [named by the boy’s family]. He also ordered the SSP and Hyderabad DIG not to reassign him the post of SHO anywhere else in the district.
Furthermore, the judge ordered the errant policemen to pay a fine / compensation of Rs20,000 to the boy’s family.
The court issued the orders on a petition filed by the boy’s mother against his unlawful detention by the Gharo police a few days ago.
The judge observed that SHO Ayaz Bughio had misused his authority and was personally involved in the ‘shameful act’. He also directed the SSP to record the boy’s and his mother’s statements under Section 154 Cr.PC within three days and register a case against all policemen involved in the matter. The court has sought a compliance report within the next four days.
The boy informed the court that a person, Zero Shah, claiming to be ‘Baboo Shah’s manager’, had got him detained at the police station. The boy also alleged that a police officer, Ali Mohammad, had attempted to molest him during his detention. The court remarked that such a conduct was “extremely regrettable and a morally and legally depraved act.”
The affected family was represented in court by lawyer Ali Asghar Dhoolo.
• Despite official denials, checkpoints set up at province’s exit points to curtail movement • Flour prices in KP jump 68pc; 20kg bag hits Rs2,800 • KP Assembly passes unanimous resolution against Punjab’s move
LAHORE: Punjab’s unannounced ban on the interprovincial movement of wheat has ignited a new crisis, causing a severe flour shortage and soaring prices in other provinces.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from politicians and flour millers who argue it violates constitutional rights and a recent deregulation agreement.
While Punjab officials denied a formal ban, they acknowledged establishing checkpoints to curb what they termed “unusual” wheat movement. Critics, however, argued that these measures are against the spirit of a deregulated market.
The ban has been met with strong condemnation from other provinces, particularly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh, which heavily depend on Punjab’s wheat supply.
The All-Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) has labelled the policy unconstitutional, citing Article 151 of the Constitution, which guarantees the freedom of trade and commerce across the country.
According to Riazullah Khan, chairman of the Punjab Flour Mills Association, checkpoints at the province’s exit points are blocking the transport of wheat and flour to other regions. He said that these actions run counter to the deregulation policy, which promised unrestricted trade and movement of wheat.
As a result of the restrictions, flour prices have skyrocketed in provinces like KP, where a 20kg bag of flour is now selling for up to Rs2,800, compared to around Rs1,800 in Punjab. This has placed an unbearable burden on low-income families already struggling with inflation.
KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi publicly condemned the ban, calling it a “blatant violation of Article 151” and a “serious breach of national unity”. The KP Assembly has also adopted a unanimous resolution denouncing Punjab’s restrictions on wheat supply, citing a 68 per cent hike in flour prices in the province.
It is not a new phenomenon but a recurring issue that resurfaces whenever there is a shortage of wheat, often caused by natural disasters such as floods or by low production due to inadequate or poor-quality farm inputs, particularly urea and DAP fertilisers. The country witnessed the same issue in 2020, 2022 and 2023.
The problem deepened when Punjab, which traditionally procured and stocked more than four million tonnes each harvest to stabilise prices and ensure year-round availability of grain, withdrew from this role under international agreements.
Govt stance vs market realities
Punjab officials maintained that the restrictions are a necessary measure to ensure food security within the province and to combat hoarding and smuggling.
They argued that preventing wheat from being diverted to feed mills or sold to other provinces at inflated prices is essential for ensuring a stable supply for local consumers.
They also pointed to the National Finance Commission award, under which each province is responsible for its own food security and should not blame other federating units for shortages.
However, millers and market analysts argued that this policy is counterproductive. They contended that the ban creates an artificial shortage, leading to market instability and driving up prices nationwide.
The Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) has consistently advocated for a deregulated wheat market, arguing that bans on interprovincial movement only create inefficiency and corruption.
Majid Abdullah, president of the Progressive Flour Millers Group, warned that if administrative measures to regulate the so-called deregulated market continue, the private sector will be reluctant to invest in the wheat sector next season.
This could force the government to import grain at much higher rates than what is available locally. Abdullah highlighted the irony of the situation, noting that Punjab authorities had previously encouraged private investment, even offering bank loans for the purpose of purchasing large quantities of grain during harvest season.
He added that without proper legal protection, the deregulation process remains uncertain and vulnerable to being reversed by a future government, which could make private investment in storage facilities worthless.
“Stability of the market needs a consistent, thorough policy protected by a proper piece of legislation,” Mr Abdullah stated.
Farmers’ woes
The ban also has a ripple effect on farmers. While the government aims to secure a stable price for consumers, its actions are seen as a disincentive for farmers.
They may choose to plant other crops in the upcoming sowing season if they cannot get a fair price for their wheat, which could lead to a significant decline in domestic production and force the country to rely on costly imports.
Mr Abdullah cautioned that administrative efforts to control prices, especially with the next sowing season approaching, will discourage farmers who are already hesitant to plant wheat after failing to get good prices for their produce in the last two seasons.
The situation underscores a deep-seated tension between the government’s desire to control prices for the public and the free-market principles essential for a healthy agricultural economy.
The federal government, under pressure from affected provinces, is now being urged to intervene and restore the free movement of wheat to avert a full-blown food crisis.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday stressed the urgent need to modernise Pakistan’s economy through digital tools, calling for a shift from conventional systems to a digitally driven model.
Speaking at the launch ceremony of UAE-based Mashreq Digital Retail Bank in Islamabad, the prime minister said transitioning to a digital economy would enhance efficiency and expand financial inclusion nationwide. “The launch of Mashreq Digital Bank is a major development that will promote a cashless, digital transaction culture in Pakistan,” he said.
The premier congratulated Mashreq Bank Chairman Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair on bringing the digital banking platform to Pakistan, and commended the Ghurair family’s contribution to strengthening economic ties between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Mr Sharif assured full government support for digital initiatives, adding that key economic sectors — including banking, agriculture, and investment — must embrace technological transformation to drive sustainable development. He also noted that Pakistan’s growing youth population could benefit from innovation in the financial sector.
Shehbaz says digital banking will boost efficiency, financial inclusion
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the entry of Mashreq Bank would bring innovation and inclusivity to Pakistan’s financial ecosystem. He cited recent macroeconomic stability and said global credit agencies were acknowledging the country’s economic improvement. He stressed the need for consistent policies to maintain momentum.
The minister added that the digital bank could help document the informal economy by enabling access to formal financial services for millions of unbanked citizens.
Chairman Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair expressed confidence in Pakistan’s economic direction, attributing the bank’s investment decision to improved stability and growth prospects. “Under the prime minister’s leadership, Pakistan is on the path to inclusive growth,” he said, describing the country as an emerging digital powerhouse in South Asia.
Mashreq Pakistan CEO Muhammad Hamayun Sajjad said digital transaction volumes had increased by 35pc, yet a large portion of the population remained unbanked. He announced the bank’s target to onboard 10 million new users.
Several cabinet members and State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmad attended the event.
PROVO: The suspect in the murder of prominent US conservative political activist Charlie Kirk has been formally charged with his murder, prosecutors in Utah announced on Tuesday.
Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump, was shot dead last week during a speaking event on a Utah university campus. He was the founder of the influential conservative youth political group Turning Point USA.
Authorities said 22-year-old Tyler Robinson used a rifle to shoot Kirk with a single bullet to the neck from a rooftop. He was arrested after a 33-hour manhunt.
“After reviewing the evidence that law enforcement has collected thus far, I am…charging Tyler James Robinson, age 22 with the following crimes,” Utah County attorney Jeff Gray told a press conference.
“Count one, aggravated murder, a capital offense, for intentionally or knowingly causing the death of Charlie Kirk under circumstances that created a great risk of death to others.” Six other charges include obstruction of justice and witness tampering, allegedly for ordering his room-mate to stay silent.
“I am filing a notice of intent to seek the death penalty,” Gray added.
“I do not take this decision lightly, and it is a decision I have made independently as county attorney based solely on the available evidence and circumstances and nature of the crime.”
Kirk, a father of two, used his audiences on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube to build support for conservative talking points, including strong criticism of the transgender rights movement.
COLOMBO: Mohammad Abdullah bagged a hat-trick as Pakistan kicked off their SAFF Under-17 Championship with a convincing 4-0 victory against Bhutan at the Colombo Racecourse Stadium on Tuesday.
Having scored twice in the first half, Abdullah completed his treble with a poacher’s finish in the 70th to round off the scoring, minutes after Hamza Yasir struck a long-range screamer for the third, as Pakistan opened their Group ‘B’ commitments in style.
Nasir Ismail’s Pakistan, winners of the inaugural edition of the tournament back in 2011 when it was for the Under-16 age bracket, are next in action on Friday when they face Maldives, who were thrashed 6-0 by India in the group opener earlier on Tuesday.
Pakistan face arch-rivals India in their final group game on Sept 22 with the top two teams from the two groups advancing to the semis. On Tuesday’s show, Pakistan will expect to be there, having made the final four of each of the last two editions of the tournament.
The latest crop showed their prowess with Abdullah splendidly leading the line, opening the scoring in the 15th minute. Pakistan moved the ball from left to right before a cross was floated in and Abdullah rose highest to plant an unstoppable header.
Then minutes later, he doubled Pakistan’s advantage — this time making a brilliant run between two defenders to get on the end of Mansoor Ahmed’s pass and slotting in.
Bhutan regrouped and a dominant Pakistan had to wait for their third, which arrived halfway through the second half. Receiving the ball almost 30 yards from goal, Hamza turned and took a touch before letting fly and finding the top corner.
Abdullah completed his hat-trick, latching onto a rebound after a shot had hit the post.
KARACHI: The fourth and penultimate round of the Hanif Mohammad Trophy commenced on Tuesday at six venues across four cities, with the race for the two Quaid-i-Azam Trophy berths entering its decisive phase.
In Group ‘A’, Quetta opener Haseebullah struck a defiant 102 off 223 balls, laced with 17 fours and a six, but found little support as his side folded for 187 in 72.1 overs against Faisalabad at the Multan Cricket Stadium. He shared a 51-run stand with Bismillah Khan (44 off 63) before Quetta collapsed. For Faisalabad, Ahmed Safi Abdullah and Mudasir Zunair claimed three wickets apiece. The reply saw Faisalabad reach 6-0 in five overs by stumps.
At the Dring Stadium in Bahawalpur, Lahore Blues were dismissed for 297 against Karachi Whites. Mohammad Mohsin (95) and Umar Siddiq (94) added 151 for the fourth wicket after Lahore had slipped to 71-3. For the Whites, Aftab Khan and Rehman Ghani bagged three wickets each. Karachi Whites closed the day at 5-0 in two overs.
Azad Jammu and Kashmir, meanwhile, ended strongly on 294-5 against Hyderabad at the Abbasia Sports Complex in Rahim Yar Khan. Skipper Hasan Raza top-scored with 83 off 93 balls, while Awais Akram Minhas remained unbeaten on 61.
In Group ‘B’, rain curtailed play at all three venues in Karachi. At the SBP Sports Complex, Karachi Blues reached 140-4 in 30.5 overs against Larkana, with captain Saud Shakeel making a brisk 54 off 60 balls.
At the National Bank Stadium, only 14.2 overs were possible as Dera Murad Jamali posted 28-2 against Rawalpindi, with Mohammad Faizan striking twice before rain intervened. At the UBL Sports Complex, Fata managed 132-3 in 44.2 overs against Multan. Mohammad Usman made 50 and added 52 for the third wicket with Mohammad Wasim Khan (39 not out). Left-arm spinner Ali Usman picked up two wickets for Multan.
Scores in brief:
Azad Jammu and Kashmir vs Hyderabad at Abbasia Sports Complex, Rahim Yar Khan
AJK 294-5 in 90 overs (Hasan Raza 83, Awais Akram Minhas 61 not out; Jawad Ali 2-78)
Lahore Blues vs Karachi Whites at Dring Stadium, Bahawalpur
LAHORE BLUES 297 in 82 overs (Mohammad Mohsin 95, Umar Siddiq 94; Aftab Khan 3-39, Rehman Ghani 3-68); KARACHI WHITES 5-0 in two overs
Quetta vs Faisalabad at Multan Cricket Stadium
QUETTA 187 in 72.1 overs (Haseebullah 102; Ahmed Safi Abdullah 3-30); FAISALABAD 6-0 in five overs
Karachi Blues vs Larkana at SBP Sports Complex, Karachi
KARACHI BLUES 140-4 in 30.5 overs (Saud Shakeel 54; Mushtaq Ahmed 2-40)
Dera Murad Jamali vs Rawalpindi at National Bank Stadium, Karachi
DM JAMALI 28-2 in 14.2 overs (Aqib Junaid 14 not out; Mohammad Faizan 2-12)
Fata vs Multan at UBL Sports Complex, Karachi
FATA 132-3 in 44.2 overs (Mohammad Usman 50; Ali Usman 2-25).
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari assured a major Chinese car maker on Tuesday that the government would provide policy support for new energy vehicles (NEV), electric buses and local production of components.
In a meeting with Yin Tongyue, the chairman of Chery Automobile Company Ltd, the president encouraged the firm to explore joint ventures in electric buses, mini trucks, green energy solutions and charging infrastructure.
He also highlighted opportunities for collaboration with Pakistani companies in manufacturing, minerals and energy storage solutions.
Mr Yin briefed the president and his delegation on Chery Auto’s global operations, its commitment to technological innovation, and its achievements in international markets.
Witnesses accords on agriculture, mass transit, environment
Meanwhile, Zhu Xiaoping, CEO and Co-founder of SUS Environment Technology, a leading Chinese waste management company, also called on the president.
Discussions focused on urban waste management, waste-to-energy projects and integrated treatment solutions.
President Zardari underlined Pakistan’s need for modern waste management systems, especially in Sindh, and welcomed the prospect of cooperation.
Mr Zhu shared his firm’s experience in advanced waste treatment and expressed an interest in investing in Pakistan.
In a separate meeting with Chen Jining, secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), President Zardari reaffirmed that Pakistan-China ties are unshakeable, saying that while spoilers and hostile elements may try to harm the relationship, they will never succeed.
Chen also briefed the president on Shanghai’s transformation. Once a manufacturing hub, the city has become a major centre of the services industry, with significant investments in healthcare and education, resulting in higher life expectancy than other parts of China.
The meeting also discussed opportunities for industrial collaboration in Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones and Gwadar Free Zone, particularly in technology, IT, artificial intelligence and innovation.
President Zardari also witnessed the signing of three Memoranda of Understanding to advance Pakistan’s agricultural, environmental and mass transit initiatives, in Shanghai, China.
MOSCOW: Russia and Belarus are rehearsing the launch of Russian tactical nuclear weapons as part of joint war games, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said on Tuesday.
State media quoted the Belarusian chief of staff as saying that the exercises also featured Russia’s Oreshnik hypersonic missile, which it test-fired last year in the war with Ukraine.
Russia and Belarus are ending five days of war games codenamed Zapad (West) in a show of force they say is to test combat readiness but which has unnerved some surrounding countries. Dressed in military attire, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with top military officials on Tuesday in Russia’s Nizhny Novogorod region, where some of the drills took place.
He said 100,000 troops were participating in the Zapad (West) joint drills with Belarus, during a surprise visit to the exercise, part of which took place close to Nato borders. Minsk earlier said only 7,000 troops were participating in the Belarusian stage of the drills, which was observed by US army representatives.
Putin says 100,000 troops are taking part in Belarus-Russia drills
“Today we are conducting the final part of the Zapad 2025 strategic exercise,” said Putin, wearing a military uniform, adding: “100,000 servicemen are taking part.” Russian news agencies reported, citing the Kremlin, that soldiers from India, Iran, Bangladesh, as well as Burkina Faso, Congo and Mali were participating in the exercise, which had up to now been advertised as a joint Russian-Belarusian drill.
The Zapad manoeuvres have put Nato’s eastern members on high alert following the downing of Russian drones in Poland last week, which has prompted Warsaw to shut the border with Belarus. Putin added that the drills were aimed at exercising “repelling potential aggression against the Union State,” referring to the allied entity of Russia and Belarus.
According to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, the drills are designed to simulate occupation of the Suwalki corridor, a strategically important area in Poland. Warsaw said it would station around 40,000 troops near the Belarus border for the duration of the drills.
Russia said it had exercised a launch of its latest Zirkon supersonic navy missile from a frigate in the Barents Sea on Sunday. Nuclear weapons deployment planning was also drilled during the Zapad exercise, according to the Belarusian army.
Around 200,000 troops participated in the 2021 edition of Zapad, staged just months before Moscow sent forces into Ukraine.
The drills were to ensure the “unconditional protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Union State,” Putin said, referring to the alliance of Russia and Belarus.
ISLAMABAD: Days after Pakistan asked the Afghan Taliban to choose whether they want to stand with their neighbour, or the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group, a key US official has called on Islamabad to seek a political settlement with Kabul.
Zalmay Khalilzad, who was named US special representative to Afghanistan during the previous Trump administration, also called on Afghanistan to “help Pakistan with such negotiations”.
The former diplomat recently undertook a visit to Kabul alongside US hostage envoy Adam Boehler, where he met with key members of the Afghan Taliban regime.
In a tweet posted after he wrapped up his visit, Khalilzad noted that violence between Pakistan’s security forces and the TTP had resulted in the deaths of a significant number of security personnel and citizens.
Imran echoes Khalilzad’s views, terms dialogue with Kabul only way to achieve lasting peace
Saying that he believed pursuing a military solution to this challenge was a mistake, he called on Islamabad to “shift to a political strategy and negotiate”.
“The Pakistani establishment always advised the US and Afghan government before 2021 to negotiate and seek a political settlement with the Afghan Taliban. The time has come for Pakistan to consider doing the same,” he said.
The timing of the message is significant, as it comes just days after PM Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir gave Kabul a stark choice.
“I want to give a clear message to Afghanistan to choose between Pakistan and TTP,” PM Shehbaz had said during a visit to Bannu alongside the army chief.
Although President Trump and US military officials such as CENTCOM chief Gen Michael Kurilla have repeatedly praised Pakistan’s counterterror cooperation — with the arrest of IS-Khorasan operative who targeted the Kabul airport’s Abbey Gate in 2021 being a highlight — Khalilzad’s message seems to be the first indication that the US wants both Islamabad and Kabul to come to the table.
In Washington circles, Khalilzad is viewed as a hawk. He openly sympathises with jailed PTI founder Imran Khan and has — in the past — reserved critical words for Pakistan.
In a tweet posted just last month, he claimed that Afghanistan’s successful operations against IS-Khorasan had pushed their leadership into Pakistan and alleged that the latter was now becoming a ‘safe haven’ for the militant group.
Imran echoes dialogue call
Khalilzad’s remarks echoed the views of the incarcerated former PM, who has also called for dialogue to address the militancy currently plaguing the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — where his party is in power.
In a tweet posted to his X account on Tuesday, Mr Khan said that operations initiated in the former tribal areas were leading to rising police, military and civilian casualties.
“This approach can never establish peace. Lasting peace only comes through dialogue,” he said. He alleged that what was being attempted in KP was merely an attempt to discredit the PTI government, and claimed a military operation would only fuel further terrorism.
As police are diverted to counter the rising threat from terrorism, governance and law and order will collapse, he said. He urged all KP lawmakers to sit with the chief minister to urgently resolve the challenges of the province, and called on his allies — namely Tehreek-i-Tahaffuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai — to send a peace delegation to Afghanistan.
GURDASPUR: The fields are full but the paddy brown and wilted, and the air thick with the stench of rotting crops and livestock — the aftermath of record monsoon rains that have devastated India’s breadbasket.
In Punjab, often dubbed the country’s granary, the damage is unprecedented: floods have swallowed farmlands almost the size of London and New York City combined.
India’s agriculture minister said in a recent visit to the state that “the crops have been destroyed and ruined”, and Indian Punjab chief minister called the deluge “one of the worst flood disasters in decades”.
Old-timers agree. “The last time we saw such an all-consuming flood was in 1988,” said 70-year-old Balkar Singh in the village of Shehzada, 30km north of Amritsar.
The gushing waters have reduced Singh’s paddy field to marshland and opened ominous cracks in the walls of his house.
Floods and landslides are common during the June-September monsoon season on the subcontinent, but experts say climate change, coupled with poorly planned development, is increasing their frequency, severity and impact.
Punjab saw rainfall surge by almost two-thirds compared with the average rate for August, according to the national weather department, killing at least 52 people and affecting over 400,000.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a relief package worth around $180 million for Punjab.
‘10 feet high’
The village of Toor is in tatters — strewn with collapsing crops, livestock carcasses and destroyed homes.
“The water came past midnight on August 26,” said farm worker Surjan Lal.
“It rose up to at least 10 feet (three metres) in a matter of minutes.” Lal said the village in Punjab’s worst-affected Gurdaspur district was marooned for nearly a week.
“We were all on rooftops,” he said. “We could do nothing as the water carried away everything from our animals and beds.”
In adjacent Lassia, the last Indian village before the frontier, farmer Rakesh Kumar counted his losses. “In addition to the land I own, I had taken some more on lease this year,” said the 37-year-old. “All my investment has just gone down the drain.” To make things worse, Kumar said, the future looked bleak. He said he feared his fields would not be ready in time to sow wheat, the winter crop of choice in Punjab.
“All the muck has to first dry up and only then can the big machines clear up the silt,” he said.
Even at the best of times, bringing heavy earth-movers into the area is a tall order, as a pontoon bridge connecting it to the mainland only operates in the lean months.
For landless labourers like 50-year-old Mandeep Kaur, the uncertainty is even greater.
“We used to earn a living by working in the big landlords’ fields but now they are all gone,” said Kaur.
Her house was washed away by the water, forcing her to sleep in the courtyard under a tarpaulin sheet — an arrangement fraught with danger as snakes slither all over the damp land.
Basmati blues
Punjab is the largest supplier of rice and wheat to India’s food security programme, which provides subsidised grain to more than 800 million people.
Analysts say this year’s losses are unlikely to threaten domestic supplies thanks to large buffer stocks, but exports of premium basmati rice are expected to suffer.
“The main effect will be on basmati rice production, prices and exports because of lower output in Indian and Pakistan Punjab,” said Avinash Kishore of the International Food Policy Research Institute in New Delhi.
