Category: National

The Punjab government has not raised the number of seats allocated for the children of overseas Pakistanis in public medical and dental colleges, despite a prior commitment from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

 In April, the prime minister announced that 15 percent of medical college seats across the country would be set aside for the children of expatriates, allowing over 3,000 students to access medical education in Pakistan.

Currently, only 66 seats in a total of 20 government medical and dental colleges in Punjab are designated for overseas Pakistanis, which constitutes less than two percent of the overall seats. The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) informed the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis that it had acted on the prime minister’s directive and relayed this information to relevant parties.

However, the Punjab government’s admission policy for 2025–26 does not indicate the promised increase. The policy, announced in October, has also eliminated free education for overseas Pakistani students in government institutions.

 According to revised regulations, students applying under the overseas quota are now required to pay an annual fee of US$10,000. Punjab’s public sector medical and dental colleges currently offer a total of 3,379 seats, which include 3,121 for MBBS and 258 for BDS programs.

A representative from the University of Health Sciences (UHS) stated that the prime minister’s directive pertains only to private medical colleges, where the PMDC has historically implemented a 15 percent quota. Private colleges charge substantial fees, approximately Rs2.5 million annually, which has deterred many overseas Pakistanis from submitting applications. Unfilled seats are frequently converted to open merit.

Overseas Pakistanis express that their primary concern lies within the public sector, where they are prepared to pay the US$10,000 fee if the quota is expanded to 15 percent. Increasing the quota would raise the number of designated seats in Punjab’s government colleges from 66 to about 500.

Officials indicate that the provincial government is hesitant to increase the quota due to the burden on state-run medical colleges, which are already struggling to uphold academic standards. 

An overseas Pakistani dismissed the UHS’s assertion, pointing out that the PMDC’s letter dated May 23 did not limit the 15 percent quota to private colleges. The correspondence clarifies that Pakistani citizens living abroad, including those holding Green Cards and Iqama, who have finished their intermediate or equivalent education inside or outside of Pakistan, qualify for the 15 percent foreign seats in both public and private medical and dental institutions.

Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI) and  Tehreek‑e‑Tahafuz‑e‑Ayeen‑e‑Pakistan (TTAP) held a jalsa at the Hayatabad Sports Complex in Peshawar on Sunday, attracting party supporters from the provincial capital and nearby districts. The party also revealed that its next rally is scheduled for Kohat next Sunday.

Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, and other prominent figures from PTI and TTAP addressed the gathering. Security measures were implemented along the routes to the sports complex, with police deploying extra personnel to control the crowd.

While PTI leaders called the rally a success, reactions on X (Formerly twitter) reflected widespread skepticism and concern, offering a mixed response, with many users expressing strong disapproval of the gathering and the political situation surrounding it.

One post described the rally as a repetitive exercise over the past three years with no concrete results, and criticized party leadership for remaining isolated from public concerns. 

Another highlighted what they saw as ineffective or empty speeches, noting that some provincial ministers have been linked to corrupt practices and lack of support for families affected by recent tragedies.

Other users commented on the impact of political activity on the province’s infrastructure. 

One wrote that PTI has not contributed to building hospitals, colleges, universities, roads, or bridges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and alleged that repeated rallies have affected existing facilities, including the Hayatabad Sports Complex.

Economic concerns were also raised, with users noting challenges across the province, including closures of factories, transport disruptions, and trading difficulties, while highlighting the continuation of public rallies. 

Another post mentioned that a very small fraction of Greater Peshawar’s population attended the rally, suggesting limited turnout in what was described as a critical period.

Overall, the online reactions reflected a polarized view of the rally and the current political climate, with many social media users questioning governance, economic conditions, and the effectiveness of public mobilization efforts.

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab has arrested 12 terrorists from Lahore, Faisalabad, and Bahawalpur on charges of having links to India’s notorious intelligence agency RAW.

According to reports, authorities recovered weapons, explosives, and detonators from the arrested men. Officials also seized photos and videos of sensitive locations and key institutions.

A CTD spokesperson said pictures, videos, and location of a madrasa and a local fair were recovered from the terrorists.

The spokesperson added that seven terrorists were arrested from Lahore, including Sukh Deep Singh, Azmat, Faizan, Nabeel, Abrar, Usman, and Sarfaraz. 

From Faisalabad, Daanish was taken into custody, while Bahawalpur arrests included Rajab, Hashim, Saqib, and Arif, who are linked to Fitna al-Hindustan.

The CTD spokesperson further revealed that the arrests were made with the help of a Facebook ID operated from India under the name Adil. He said Sukh Deep Singh was born Christian but had converted to another religion some time ago.

The spokesperson confirmed that the terrorists received substantial funding from RAW. 

Cases have been registered against the arrested individuals, and investigations are underway.

Families of the two girls, who were run over by the son of Justice Mohammad Asif of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) last week, have forgiven the accused, bringing the case to an end.

According to reports, Judicial Magistrate Shaista Kundi heard the matter at the District and Sessions Court after the teenage accused completed his four-day physical remand. 

During the hearing, the families of the victims appeared before the court and announced their decision to pardon the accused, namely Abuzar.

The brother of one of the deceased girls recorded his statement in court while their mother gave her statement via video-link.  The father of the second victim also recorded his statement in court.

Following reconciliation between both families and the accused, the court ordered the closure of the case.

The court also approved bail for the accused and ordered his release.

The accident, which took place five days ago at Secretariat Chowk on the federal capital’s Shahrah-e-Dastoor, involved the IHC judge’s SUV that hit the women while they were commuting via a scooter.

Both girls passed away on the spot, and were later identified as Samreen and Tabinda.

Police registered a case at Secretariat Police Station on the complaint of Samreen’s brother and arrested Abuzar. 

Sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 322 (manslaughter) and 427 (mischief causing damage) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) were invoked in the case.

The investigating officer informed the court that further custody was required to complete the investigation, including verification of the suspect’s medical report, vehicle inspection and eyewitness statements.

After reviewing the case record and police request, the court had approved physical remand of the suspect for further investigation. The bodies of the deceased were shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for autopsy.

Authorities had assured the families of the victims that the case would be investigated strictly on merit.

As many as nine terrorists were killed in two intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Tank and Lakki Marwat districts, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported Saturday.

According to a statement by the military’s media wing, the terrorists belonged to Indian proxy Fitna Al Khawarij, a term used by the state for members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

ISPR said the first operation was conducted in Tank after reports of terrorists’ presence. Security forces engaged the location and after an intense exchange of fire, seven terrorists were killed. In a separate operation in Lakki Marwat, two more were neutralised.

Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the eliminated militants.

ISPR further stated that the killed terrorists had been involved in attacks against security forces, law enforcement agencies and in target killings of civilians.

Sanitisation operations are continuing to clear the area of any remaining threats, it said, adding that the counter-terrorism campaign under Azm-e-Istehkam will proceed at full pace to eradicate foreign-sponsored terrorism.

President Asif Ali Zardari praised the courage and timely action of the forces in thwarting terrorist plans. He said the nation’s resolve to eliminate terrorism would remain intact until the menace was ended.

Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the security forces, saying they were making significant gains in the war on terror. “The nation stands with security forces against terrorism. We are determined to root out terrorism from the country,” he said in a statement.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also commended the operations, noting that the militants were neutralised with efficiency. He highlighted the professionalism and bravery of the soldiers, adding that the timely actions had prevented major threats.

“Security forces remain fully determined to restore and maintain lasting peace in KP,” Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) quoted him as saying.

Karachi’s garbage crisis has reached alarming proportions, with more than 14,800 tonnes of solid waste generated every day – a figure now higher than that of Mumbai, New Delhi and Dhaka.

Reports quoted Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) Managing Director Tariq Ali Nizamani as revealing that District Central alone produces over 3,000 tonnes of waste a day, making it the largest contributor among the port city’s seven districts.

Addressing a seminar on sustainable urban waste solutions, he said that 42 percent of the city’s garbage was organic waste, which could be converted into compost or biogas if proper segregation systems were introduced.

Karachi also accounts for about a quarter of Pakistan’s recyclable plastic waste, he said and announced that the SSWMB’s first biogas plant at Bagh Ibne Qasim will begin operations on December 15.

The facility will process up to seven tonnes of livestock waste daily and provide low-cost cooking gas to 70–80 nearby households at a subsidised rate of Rs2,000 per month. In its next phase, the plant will also generate electricity to help address power shortages at the park.

Another large biogas plant is planned for Cattle Colony to prevent untreated cattle waste from polluting the sea.

He said that heavy vehicles scattering garbage on roads will face fines of up to Rs20,000 once the board receives legal approval to impose penalties.

According to Nizamani, the SSWMB has deployed more than 13,000 workers and over 2,300 vehicles for citywide waste collection. The department now uses real-time technology to track waste movement from households to landfill sites. A helpline, call center and mobile app are available round the clock for public complaints.

He also noted that a World Bank-funded project is underway to build new garbage transfer stations and a fully engineered sanitary landfill for Karachi.

A seven-year-old boy lost his life after falling into an open manhole in Lodhran on Saturday. 

The tragic incident occurred in the Dhanot area when the child, identified as Rehan, was having breakfast with his father near Saeed Chowk.

Rescue officials said that the sewer line in the area carried eight to ten feet of dirty water. While walking with his father, Rehan accidentally fell into the uncovered manhole. 

Rescue teams were informed immediately and rushed the boy to a nearby hospital, but he could not be saved.

An inquiry committee has been formed under the supervision of the ADCG to investigate the incident.

The incident took place just days after a similar tragedy in Karachi where three-year-old Ibrahim fell into an open manhole near Nipa Chowrangi on Sunday night. 

Rescue officials recovered his body from a nearby drain 1.5 kilometers from the site, 14 hours after the accident. Ibrahim had been visiting a departmental store with his family when he ran ahead and slipped into the uncovered manhole.

A report by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) attributed the incident to the “carelessness” of officials from the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service and the nearby department store. 

Sindh government launched an inquiry, while Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab visited the family, expressed sorrow, and promised strict action against those responsible.

A man in Phularwan area of Sargodha has committed murder-suicide by jumping into a canal with his three-year-old daughter.

According to reports, Rescue 1122 divers and police, including the SHO concerned, reached the scene after receiving the report. They recovered the body of the girl, namely Hadiba, while a search for the man, identified as Irteza Nasir, continues.

Nasir was allegedly fed up with his financial situation and decided to end his life by jumping into the Lower Jhelum Canal, police said.

Meanwhile, a now-viral video has shown Nasir revealing his intentions to end his life along with his daughter.

Further probe is underway.

In a separate incident reported yesterday, police in Mianwali have filed a murder case against a couple in the Harnoli region for allegedly killing their two-month-old daughter.

According to police, the couple was dissatisfied with the birth of a second daughter. The infant was tragically drowned by her biological parents in a water tank.

The father has been taken into custody, and during interrogation, he reportedly confessed to the crime. He stated he had wanted a son and committed the murder at the behest of his wife. Efforts to apprehend the mother remain underway.

The case has been registered in the name of the state, and police are continuing their investigation to uncover all details surrounding the incident. Law enforcement representatives have emphasized their commitment to ensuring accountability for both parents, noting that the detained father remains in police custody. This case highlights ongoing societal pressures regarding gender preference, and police stated that legal proceedings will proceed in accordance with the law.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Friday trained guns at incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan without naming him for spreading what he described as an “anti-army” narrative.

Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi, the ISPR chief warned of a “creeping national security threat”, saying that the military felt compelled to address the rhetoric that had moved beyond politics.

He referred to Khan as a “delusional person” captive to his own ego, claiming that the jailed former premier believed his wishes outweighed those of the state.

The ISPR chief said that the narrative being pushed was a matter of national security and it was important for the military’s media wing to clarify and remove ambiguities, noting that the rhetoric was being advanced in collusion with external actors.

He reiterated that the armed forces represented all regions, religions and communities of Pakistan, but once in uniform, they set aside personal affiliations.

“We strive and die daily for the people of Pakistan and for the integrity of Pakistan,” he said, adding that the military largely came from middle and lower socio-economic classes and did not represent elitism or political actors.

Lt Gen Chaudhry warned that if the armed forces and their leadership were attacked for reasons of ego or narcissism, they would respond firmly. He urged political parties to keep their politics away from the military, saying the army did not want to be dragged into political disputes.

He outlined how Khan’s rhetoric was harming the armed forces, stressing that no one could be allowed to create divisions between the people and the military. The ISPR chief also said the army was the only shield standing between Pakistan and external threats, including India’s Hindutva mindset and terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan.

Without naming anyone, Lt Gen Chaudry referred to the jailed PTI founder saying: “His ego and desires have grown to such an extent that he says if not me, then nothing.”

Declaring ex-PM Khan “mentally ill”, he questioned what kind of Constitution and law was it under which you meet a convicted person.

Citing Articles 17 and 19 of the Constitution, he said they permit freedom of expression and political activity, but it was subject to reasonable restrictions that protect the security and integrity of the state.

“We respect Pakistan’s political leadership but keep the army away from your politics,” the military’s spokesperson said, adding that they would not allow anyone to create a rift between Pakistan’s army and the people. 

The military spokesperson also said Khan tried to stop remittances, wrote to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to block agreements with Pakistan, encouraged civil disobedience and urged followers to target army leadership.

Lt Gen Chaudhry said the “mentally disturbed individual” had recently posted a tweet and asked his supporters to target military leadership that stood firm against an enemy eight times stronger in the Operation Bunyan um Marsoos.

He said such actions could only benefit hostile actors outside Pakistan.

During the nearly two hours long presser, Lt Gen Chaudhry also showed screenshots of Khan’s tweets and video messages of his loyalists, alleging that troll accounts operated from abroad were amplifying the narrative.

He also said Indian media and intelligence-linked accounts were spreading the rhetoric while Afghan social media was also involved.

Earlier, the ISPR chief spoke of the propaganda spread over the notification of the chief of defence forces, describing it as “a flood of lies”.

He questioned what kind of politics of freedom of expression it was. “Please grow up. Talk about real issues,” he said, adding that even routine military news was being used to generate propaganda.