Posts in category: Politics

KOHAT: An initial incident report regarding the blast during Friday prayers and subsequent terrorist attack at the Police Lines on Hangu Road in Kohat has been submitted to the Secretary Health, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to the report, a blast occurred at a mosque located inside Police Lines, Hangu Road, Kohat, at approximately 1:20 PM during Friday prayers. The blast was followed by a reported terrorist attack involving approximately 5 to 7 terrorists.

21 People Martyred

The initial report states that a total of 21 people were martyred in the incident, including 15 police personnel and 6 civilians.

Among the civilians who lost their lives was Dr. Israel Khan Aurakzai, Chief District Specialist (Pediatrics) at Liaqat Memorial Hospital, Kohat.

103 Injured Received at Hospitals

According to the report, a total of 103 injured people were received at the relevant health facilities.

Of these, 13 injured were received at Liaqat Memorial Hospital, while 90 injured people were received at DHQ Hospital Kohat.

The injured included 73 police personnel and 30 civilians.

34 Patients Admitted

The report further states that a total of 34 injured patients were admitted to hospital.

Five patients underwent laparotomy, a surgical procedure involving an operation on the abdomen. Four of the patients who underwent the procedure were subsequently referred to tertiary care facilities in Peshawar for further treatment and management.

Medical Assistance Being Provided

The report states that the situation is being closely monitored and all possible medical assistance is being provided to the injured at the concerned health facilities.

The initial incident report was submitted to the Secretary Health, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, for information and further necessary directions.

Also Read: 16 Killed, 57 Injured in Blast Near Police Lines Mosque in Kohat

Federal Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said that the Islamabad High Court’s detailed judgment has been issued and, following the decision, there is no basis for anyone to storm Islamabad. He said contempt of court proceedings would be initiated against anyone who violates the court’s decision.

Speaking at a press conference, Mohsin Naqvi said there was no possibility of storming Islamabad after the detailed judgment of the Islamabad High Court. He added that anyone violating the court’s decision would face contempt of court proceedings.

The federal minister said those wishing to stage protests should do so in their own areas, adding that no one would be allowed to storm Islamabad.

Mohsin Naqvi said that significant losses had occurred in the past. He added that if young people were shot at, they would not simply remain silent.

He said law-enforcement agencies had been instructed to stop them by every possible means.

Also Read: 155 PTI Workers Ordered Detained in Rawalpindi, List of 118 More Prepared

A powerful explosion occurred near a police lines mosque in Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during Friday prayers, leaving 16 people dead and 57 others injured, including police personnel.

According to sources, the explosion took place between the old Police Lines mosque and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) office using a vehicle loaded with explosives. Sources said that Fitan al-Khawarij carried out the attack.

Following the blast, an exchange of fire also took place between armed militants and police and army personnel. During the retaliatory operation by security forces and police, three Khawarij militants were killed. According to sources, all three were from Afghanistan.

Police said the blast severely damaged the outer portion of the mosque and caused a wall to collapse. Nearby buildings were also damaged in the explosion.

Rescue and police teams reached the scene immediately after receiving information about the blast. During the ongoing search and rescue operation, more than 30 injured and deceased people have so far been shifted to hospitals in Rescue 1122 ambulances.

The search and rescue operation involves 14 ambulances, rescue vehicles, a recovery vehicle and more than 45 rescue personnel. Rescue activities will continue until the operation is completed.

Police said the Kohat-Hangu Road has been closed to all traffic, while additional police personnel have been deployed near the Police Lines.

Also Read: KP Assembly Passes Resolution Against Punjab Police Despite Quorum Objection

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has issued an open political challenge to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, saying PML-N can choose any city in Punjab while PTI will select a city of its choice, and PML-N can also decide the day, date and time of the rally.

In his statement, Sohail Afridi said both parties should be provided a complete and equal political field. He said that if the PML-N rally proved larger than the PTI rally in terms of public participation, he would be ready to quit politics.

He said that if the PTI rally was larger, the PML-N would have to answer questions before the people of Punjab regarding its public mandate, alleged violence and repression against political workers, style of governance and performance.

According to Sohail Afridi, the PML-N would also have to apologise to the public and reconsider its political strategy and leadership.

میں ساری نون لیگ کو ایک کھلا سیاسی چیلنج دیتا ہوں۔

پنجاب کے کسی بھی شہر کا انتخاب نون لیگ خود کرے، جبکہ تحریک انصاف کے لیے بھی وہ اپنی مرضی کا کوئی بھی شہر منتخب کر لے۔ دن، تاریخ اور وقت بھی نون لیگ خود طے کرے۔ شرط صرف یہ ہے کہ دونوں جماعتوں کو مکمل اور یکساں لیول پلیئنگ فیلڈ دی…

— Sohail Afridi (@SohailAfridiISF) September 17, 2026

“Let the People Decide Through Their Strength”

The PTI leader said that if the PML-N had confidence in the performance of its government and its popularity among the people of Punjab, it should have no hesitation in accepting the challenge.

He said the biggest political test for the PML-N was the performance of Maryam Nawaz’s government. According to him, if the PML-N had confidence in the performance of its government and public popularity, it should come into the political field and let the people decide through their strength.

Sohail Afridi said the decision should not be based on claims, official statistics or media statements, but on public participation in rallies and the public response.

He said the challenge had been clearly presented and the people of Punjab would now decide.

In his statement, Sohail Afridi referred to the Feb. 8 general elections and claimed that the people of Punjab had given PTI a two-thirds majority on that occasion.

LAHORE: The Services and General Administration Department of the Punjab government has proposed a residential project worth over Rs 4.23 billion to construct luxury apartments for government officers.

The project has been included in the development budget for the current fiscal year 2026-27 and is proposed to be built on 60 kanals and one marla of government land on Burki Road in Lahore Cantt. Under the plan, 24 two-bedroom apartments will be constructed for government officers in a building comprising a basement, ground floor, and six stories. The cost of the apartment building alone is estimated at over Rs 2.05 billion.

According to project documents, the facility will feature a VIP gym, library, indoor games, seminar room, VIP executive lounge, and a café. Additionally, a separate convention hall covering approximately 40,246 square feet is proposed at a cost of Rs 547.2 million. The project also includes surface parking facilities for 164 cars and 47 motorcycles, while allocations of Rs 145.1 million for generators, over Rs 55.4 million for a solar system, over Rs 335.8 million for external works, more than Rs 152.1 million for furniture, and Rs 10 million for gym equipment have been proposed. The project is targeted for completion within 24 months.

Meanwhile, the Planning and Development (P&D) technical wing and the PDWP forum have raised serious concerns over the heavy cost of the project, questioning the necessity and expenditure on imported construction materials and high-end luxury amenities. Recommendations have been made to review the costs of elevators, HVAC systems, generators, solar systems, and other expensive utilities. Furthermore, constructing a basement exclusively for 26 parking spaces was deemed an ineffective and costly solution, with officials directing a review of surface parking options given the ample land available on site.

Also Read: Alleged Use of Government Aircraft for Maryam Nawaz’s Daughter’s Graduation Reaches Punjab Assembly

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja announced on X that he and his associates have been released after being illegally detained by police for four continuous hours.

According to details, Raja stated that he, Latesab Satti, Akhlaq Satti, and several other friends were held in unlawful detention for four hours with the sole purpose of preventing them from attending the funeral of the late Ejaz Satti. He remarked that the fear of the public has stripped decision-makers of wisdom and understanding, human rights have become meaningless, and he expressed gratitude to friends for their good wishes.

Prior to his release, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar stated on X that lawyer Shaukat Basra had informed him that Salman Akram Raja was being held at a police station for the past two hours.

Demanding Raja’s immediate release, Barrister Gohar stated that approximately 700 workers have been arrested over the past few days. He further added that arrest warrants have also been issued against members of the national and provincial assemblies. Terming these actions illegal, he demanded that this pattern must come to an immediate end.

Also Read: 155 PTI Workers Ordered Detained in Rawalpindi, List of 118 More Prepared

ISLAMABAD: A major alleged corruption scandal has surfaced at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with an investigation report claiming that Rs12 billion was illegally collected from citizens during the process of document attestation.

A copy of the investigation report submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has emerged. The report was prepared by a four-member committee headed by Director General Audit Inspection Dr Ahmed Ali Sarohi.

According to the report, a network involved in collecting money from citizens during the attestation of documents was identified. It stated that citizens were allegedly charged up to Rs800,000 for using illegal channels for document attestation.

The report claimed that Rs12 billion was illegally collected within a period of one year, amounting to Rs1 billion being taken from citizens every month.

According to the findings, a courier company had a special relationship with an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ministry officials said the report also contains the names and statements of officers and personnel allegedly linked to the network and accused of playing a role in collecting money from citizens.

Also Read: NAB Recovers Over Rs211 Million More in Kohistan Mega Corruption Scandal

The investigation report stated that an official working in the Foreign Secretary’s office was also allegedly part of the network.

The names of several Directors General of different wings of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a former additional secretary and a former diplomat have also been included in the investigation report.

It has also emerged that the report, which was sent to the Foreign Secretary’s office in July, was not forwarded to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) or any other investigative agency.

The report further revealed that despite the investigation committee submitting its findings and recommendations, several of the officials allegedly involved were subsequently posted abroad.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the establishment of facilitation desks comprising administration officials, volunteers and petrol pump staff to help citizens avail themselves of the government’s petrol subsidy scheme.

A review meeting on the progress of the PM Special Relief Scheme was held in Islamabad on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The scheme is aimed at providing relief to low-income and middle-class segments amid an increase in petroleum product prices in view of the situation in the Gulf.

Under the scheme, fuel subsidies are being provided to owners of motorcycles, rickshaws and vehicles with engine capacity of up to 800cc.

The prime minister directed that facilitation desks be established to make it easier for citizens to obtain the subsidy. He said personnel at the desks should guide eligible citizens seeking relief under the scheme.

Also Read: ECC Approves Rs1.34 Per Litre Increase in Petroleum Dealers’ Margin

Shehbaz Sharif directed that citizens be provided with all possible assistance during registration and other required procedures. He also instructed the relevant authorities to remain active in creating public awareness about the scheme.

The prime minister was informed that following the launch of the scheme’s pilot in Islamabad, it has now been launched across the country, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

According to the briefing, the registration process has been simplified and requires only four pieces of information: the Computerised National Identity Card number, vehicle number plate, province of registration and vehicle registration date.

Complete details of the fuel subsidy scheme are available on the Urdu website www.pmfuelrelief.pk, while the number of successful registrations is gradually increasing. Provincial governments are cooperating fully in implementing the scheme nationwide.

ISLAMABAD — The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has officially cancelled and withdrawn the layout plan (LOP) for “Bahria Town (Phase III-E & IV)” in Zone-5, Islamabad, with immediate effect. The decisive regulatory action follows a 15-year failure by the project sponsors, M/s Bahria Town (Pvt) Ltd (BTPL), to secure a formal No Objection Certificate (NOC) and comply with mandatory planning terms.

Background and Regulatory Breaches

Originally approved on December 8, 2010, across 2,999 kanals, the housing scheme proceeded with site development and plot sales without ever obtaining the required CDA NOC—a direct violation of the CDA Ordinance 1960 and the ICT (Zoning) Regulation, 1992.

According to the CDA, numerous grave violations were identified on-site, including unauthorized commercial buildings along Corniche Road, as well as encroachments and constructions on public amenity plots, parks, graveyards, and riverbeds. Previous show-cause notices and directives issued to vacate and restore public spaces were met with replies deemed factually incorrect and unacceptable by the authority.

Audit Findings and Legal Precedent

The crackdown also incorporates findings from the Directorate General of Federal Audit (Audit Para 3.4.65/2023-24), which flagged illegal commercial construction along Corniche Road. The Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC), chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, subsequently ordered the removal of these illegal structures.

The CDA’s decision aligns with a September 26, 2019, Islamabad High Court judgment (Writ Petition No. 2766/2019) involving Bahria Town and the CDA. The court ruled that executing development activities under unapproved revised layout plans disentitles the petitioner from receiving relief under the court’s equitable jurisdiction.

Immediate Enforcement and Consequences

Invoking Clause-5 (II) of the ICT (Zoning) Regulation, 1992, the CDA withdrew the LOP, enacted an immediate suspension of building plan approvals for the scheme, and halted the processing of all other cases involving M/s BTPL due to its default status.

Copies of the cancellation order have been dispatched to key administrative and law enforcement bodies—including the Islamabad Deputy Commissioner, SSP, Director Enforcement (East), Director Building Control (South), utility providers (IESCO and SNGPL), the Press Information Department (PID), and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP)—to execute demolition actions, halt advertising, and enforce compliance across the board.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution condemning the Punjab Police by majority vote despite repeated identification of a lack of quorum during the proceedings.

The session was chaired by Presiding Officer Anwar Khan. Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam presented the resolution, which condemned an incident involving the chief minister.

The resolution stated that the chief minister was allegedly forced into a police vehicle, separated from his protocol and left without security. It termed the Punjab Police’s alleged conduct a serious matter.

It further stated that stopping Sohail Khan in such a manner constituted a violation of Articles 4 and 14 of the Constitution. The resolution said police had no right to treat the chief minister of an elected province in such a manner.

The resolution called for CCTV footage of the incident to be reviewed to identify the officials responsible and demanded strict action against them. It also stated that political differences should remain separate from the security concerns of an elected representative.

During the presentation of the resolution, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz lawmaker Suresh Kumar repeatedly pointed out that the required quorum was not present. However, the presiding officer continued the proceedings and called for a vote on the resolution.

The resolution was subsequently passed by a majority vote despite opposition from the opposition benches.

During the opposition’s subsequent remarks, government member Mian Sharafat also pointed out the lack of quorum. Presiding Officer Anwar Khan directed that bells be rung, but when the quorum could not be completed, the sitting was adjourned until September 18.

Also Read: KP Government Withdraws Proposed Assembly Members’ Benefits and Blue Passport Amendments