Sharjeel Memon praises Sindh Police for exemplary role in restoring law and order

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Tue, 5 Aug 2025, 7:26 PM

KARACHI, Aug 05 (APP): Senior Sindh Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport, and Mass Transit, Sharjeel Inam Memon, lauded the Sindh Police for their historic and courageous role in maintaining law and order, saying their contributions deserve greater recognition and appreciation.

Speaking during a session of the Sindh Assembly, Memon said that while law and order issues are a persistent challenge for the public, ensuring safety and protecting life and property remain the core duties of the police force, according to a news release on Tuesday.

He noted that despite being frequently criticized and accused, the police, particularly constables, continue to risk their lives for modest salaries without due acknowledgement. “The police have always been an easy target for blame, but we fail to consider the hardships faced by those who serve on the ground,” he said.

Highlighting the police’s efforts since 2008, the minister said the Sindh Police had played an outstanding role across the province, especially when empowered by a people’s government. He recalled that many areas previously deemed unsafe after dark had since returned to normalcy due to effective policing.

Sharjeel Memon also commended the police for their bravery in confronting major threats, including terrorist attacks. He cited the Karachi Airport assault, during which then IG Iqbal Mahmood personally led from the front, as well as the attacks on the Karachi Stock Exchange and Central Police Office (CPO), where the force responded with professionalism and courage.

He further mentioned the successful investigations into high-profile cases such as the Safoora incident and university attacks, asserting that no other provincial force had resolved such complex cases with similar expertise.

Sharjeel Memon emphasized that the police remained active on multiple fronts, from securing religious events to combating street crime and narcotics. Despite resource constraints, he said, the force continued to fulfill its duties with commitment.

While acknowledging that more facilities should be provided, he said the Sindh government was doing its best to support and equip the force. “The capacity of the Sindh Police is not the result of any special privilege, it is inherent and earned,” he added.

Calling for collective appreciation of the force, Memon said, “We must all salute the Sindh Police. Their historic and unmatched role in protecting the public deserves the highest recognition.”

Electricity prices likely to drop by Rs. 0.77 per unit

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Asif Jalal

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Tue, 5 Aug 2025, 7:24 PM

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 05 (APP): Electricity consumers across the country may soon receive another financial relief, as a further reduction of Rs. 0.77 per unit (inclusive of taxes) in power tariffs is expected in the upcoming billing cycle. The anticipated relief comes under the heads of Quarterly Tariff Adjustment (QTA) and Fuel Price Adjustment (FPA).

According to NEPRA, the fourth quarterly adjustment for the fiscal year 2024–25 was submitted by power distribution companies (DISCOs), to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), which held a public hearing on August 4, 2025. Based on the hearing, NEPRA is likely to approve a negative adjustment of Rs 1.89 per unit, which will be reflected in electricity bills for the months of August, September, and October.

This expected reduction is primarily due to revised agreements with power generation companies, increased power demand, and the integration of captive power plants into the national grid—resulting in lower overall production costs. Consequently, a reduction of Rs 0.34 per unit under this head is expected to appear in August’s bills.

Simultaneously, for June 2025’s fuel cost adjustment, the Central Power Purchasing Agency – Guaranteed (CPPA-G) submitted its request to NEPRA on July 16. A hearing was conducted on July 3, 2025, and according to preliminary assessments, a further reduction of Rs 0.78 per unit is expected to be applied to August bills. This comes after consumers had already received a Rs. 0.50 per unit relief in their July bills. The remaining Rs 0.28 per unit will now be adjusted in August.

Six years on: Pakistan stands united with Kashmir on Youm-e-Istehsal

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Asif Jalal

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Tue, 5 Aug 2025, 7:20 PM

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 5 (APP): Pakistan observed Youm-e-Istehsal (Day of Exploitation) on Tuesday to mark the sixth anniversary of India’s revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status, a unilateral and illegal action widely condemned by Pakistan, Kashmiris, and the international community.

Nationwide rallies, official events, and global observances were held to express solidarity with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and reaffirm Pakistan’s continued support for their right to self-determination.

The central rally in Islamabad, began from the Foreign Office and culminated at D-Chowk. It was attended by government officials, civil society members, diplomats, and the public.

A minute of silence was observed at 10:00 am across the country in tribute to the resilience and sacrifices of the Kashmiri people.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his message on the occasion, described the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute as a “key pillar” of Pakistan’s foreign policy.

He urged the international community to intervene and press India to reverse its unilateral measures of August 5, 2019, which he termed “illegal and in violation of international law.”

President Asif Ali Zardari echoed these sentiments, stating, “This day underscores the urgency of resolving the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.”

He also praised the recent success of Pakistan’s counterterrorism operations, highlighting national unity in the face of external challenges.

Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s “complete moral, diplomatic and political support” for Kashmiris in their just struggle, while emphasizing the need for international accountability for Indian actions in the disputed region.

Special events were held across Pakistan’s provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Pakistani embassies worldwide also organized observances, underlining the global scope of Pakistan’s outreach on the Kashmir issue.

State-run and private media aired special transmissions to spotlight the human rights violations in IIOJK and highlight the contributions of the Kashmiri leadership in the freedom struggle.

Banners, posters, and digital displays were installed in major cities to raise awareness about the plight of Kashmiris under Indian occupation.

Federal ministers joined in issuing statements condemning India’s August 5 actions and calling for the restoration of Kashmir’s special status.

Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit Baltistan Engr Amir Muqam has urged the international community to play a role in a solid solution to the longstanding Kashmir issue in this region because no peace is possible in the region without a solution to the Kashmir issue.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said, “Pakistan continues to expose Indian atrocities on every international forum.”

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi criticized the Modi government’s “illegal and unilateral revocation of Articles 370 and 35A,” branding it a direct attack on Kashmiri identity.

In similar remarks, Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan emphasized that “peace in the region is impossible without the just resolution of the Kashmir dispute.”

Other ministers echoed the same call, reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering stance and calling for international mediation.

The Prime Minister of Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Chief Ministers of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also marked the day with strong statements of support.

Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur condemned India’s continued human rights abuses in Kashmir, calling August 5 “a black day in modern history.”

From Beijing to Brussels, Pakistani envoys organized solemn ceremonies and diplomatic briefings.

In Beijing, the Embassy of Pakistan held a formal observance, while Ambassador Rahim Hayat Qureshi in Brussels called on the EU and international rights organizations to fulfill their obligations by demanding an end to India’s abuses in Kashmir.

Leaders from major political parties, including JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman, paid tribute to the courage of the Kashmiri people and demanded concrete action from the global community.

The observance of Youm-e-Istehsal comes amid continued restrictions and security crackdowns in IIOJK, where human rights groups have reported enforced disappearances, curfews, and political repression since 2019.

As international pressure grows on India to address the Kashmir issue, Pakistan continues to call for a resolution based on UN Security Council resolutions and in accordance with the will of the Kashmiri people.

Bilawal reiterates Pakistan’s support for Kashmiris on Youm-e-Istehsal

By

Asif Jalal

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Tue, 5 Aug 2025, 7:11 PM

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KARACHI, Aug 05 (APP): Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has strongly condemned the Indian government’s illegal and unilateral actions in Illegally Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, reiterating Pakistan’s unwavering political, moral, and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri people on the solemn occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal being observed across the country on August 5.

According to the press release issued by the Media Cell Bilawal House, Chairman PPP said in his message that August 5 marks a dark chapter in South Asia’s history when, in 2019, India revoked the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir in blatant violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

“Over the last six years, the BJP-led Indian regime has accelerated its colonial project in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) by introducing policies aimed at altering the region’s demographic character, dis-empowering its indigenous population, and erasing its distinct political and cultural identity,” he said.

Chairman PPP condemned India’s arbitrary delimitation of constituencies, the mass inclusion of non-Kashmiris in electoral rolls, and the issuance of domicile certificates to outsiders as part of a broader strategy to turn Kashmiris into a political minority in their homeland. “This demographic engineering is not just illegal—it is an act of aggression against an entire people,” he pointed out.

Chairman PPP emphasized that Youm-e-Istehsal is not only a day of condemnation, but also a moment to reaffirm the commitment of the Pakistani nation to the Kashmiri cause.

He further said that the people of Pakistan, and the Pakistan Peoples Party in particular, will always stand shoulder to shoulder with their Kashmiri brothers and sisters until their right to self-determination is realized as per the United Nations Security Council resolutions.

He recalled the lifelong commitment of Quaid-e-Awam, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to the cause of Kashmir. “We carry forward their legacy and we will never abandon the people of Kashmir in their darkest hour,” he vowed.

He also paid tribute to the resilience and courage of the Kashmiri people who continue to resist Indian occupation with dignity. “Their struggle is not just for land—it is for identity, for justice, and freedom. And that struggle commands the respect of every just and democratic nation across the world,” he said.

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed pride in Pakistan’s unwavering diplomatic and strategic efforts to keep the Kashmir issue at the forefront of international attention. He also paid tribute to the spirit of national unity and determination that fuels these efforts, particularly highlighting the overwhelming success of Operation Baniyanum-Marsous as a powerful symbol of the deep and unbreakable bond between the people of Pakistan and the oppressed people of Kashmir.

Bilawal Bhutto concluded with a call to the global community, urging international human rights organizations, civil society, and democratic nations to break their silence on the grave violations being committed in occupied Kashmir. “History will not forgive the silence of those who could have spoken out. It is time for the world to stand with Kashmir, before more time, more dignity, and more lives are lost.”

CJP reiterates conformity between Bench & bar

By

Asif Jalal

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Tue, 5 Aug 2025, 7:08 PM

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 05 (APP): The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr. Justice Yahya Afridi, accompanied by Mr. Justice Junaid Ghaffar, Chief Justice of the High Court of Sindh, met today with a delegation of the Sindh High Court Bar Association at the Supreme Court Branch Registry, Karachi.

The delegation was led by SHC Bar Association President, Barrister Muhammad Sarfraz Ali Metlo and comprising Mr. Muhammad Rahib Lakho, Vice President, Mirza Sarfraz Ahmed, Honorary Secretary, Mr. Athar Ali Memon, Honorary Treasurer, Mr. Waseem Saif Khoso, Honorary Joint Secretary, Ms. Safia Qadir, Mr. Aamer Latif, Ms. Zahida Kamal Alvi, Mr. Muhammad Aamir Khosa, Mr. Rizwan Ali Rajpar, Mr. Muhammad Faisal Khan, Ms. Urooj Akhlaq, Mr. Deewan Tara Chand and Mr. Ubedullah Abro, Members Managing Committee and Mr. Rehan Aziz Malik, Ex-President.

According to a press note released here Tuesday, the Chief Justice of Pakistan warmly welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed that the Bench and Bar are integral components of a justice system. He stressed that the shared mission of delivering justice cannot be achieved without the close cooperation of the legal fraternity, assuring that he would not allow any factor to disrupt this vital meaningful partnership.

Briefing the delegation, the Chief Justice outlined the ongoing reform agenda being implemented through the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP). He apprised them of the measures taken for the welfare of the legal fraternity, including their inclusion in decision-making processes and policy development for the justice sector. Notable initiatives include the solarization of bar premises and the integration of IT solutions (e-libraries) to enhance bar’s technical abilities in remote areas. It was reiterated that the decision was taken after a consultative process and collective input.

He further shared significant decisions taken at recent meetings of the LJCP and the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC), which he chaired. These decisions include ackling the issue of enforced disappearances and the creation of a dedicated committee to propose an institutional response; directives to High Courts to devise mechanisms to safeguard judges from external influence; establishment of Commercial Litigation Corridors and Model Criminal Trial Courts for speedy adjudication; timelines for the disposal of 13 categories of cases; piloting a Double-Docket Court Regime; institutionalization of court-annexed mediation; and adoption of a Professional Excellence Index to elevate. Additionally, the NJPMC formed a committee for standardization of recruitment, training, and service conditions for the district judiciary.

In response, the President of the Sindh High Court Bar Association expressed gratitude to the Chief Justice for the initiatives undertaken for the legal community. He highlighted challenges faced by the fraternity and proposed the establishment of Model Civil Courts for the swift adjudication of the oldest civil cases. The Chief Justice welcomed these suggestions and assured that they would be placed before the relevant forums for due consideration.

The meeting concluded with a reaffirmed commitment to strengthening judicial efficiency, transparency, and accessibility, underscoring the indispensable partnership between the Bench and Bar in ensuring the effective delivery of justice.