Day: July 9, 2026

Peshawar: The Awami National Party (ANP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday termed the controversial law relating to journalists in the province as being against constitutional freedoms and freedom of the press.

In a statement, ANP KP Spokesperson Arsalan Khan Nazim said the law concerning restrictions on journalists and media amounted to a direct attack on democratic values, constitutional freedoms and press freedom.

He alleged that the legislation was aimed at curtailing the public’s right to information and discouraging criticism of the government’s performance.

The spokesperson further claimed that efforts to keep the law away from public and media scrutiny even after its approval reflected what he described as the government’s lack of transparency.

Arsalan Khan Nazim alleged that the law granted extraordinary powers to the Speaker to bar journalists from covering assembly proceedings, restrict the publication or broadcast of proceedings, and impose penalties, including imprisonment and fines, on journalists critical of the Speaker or the Assembly.

He said existing legal mechanisms were already available to address cases involving false reporting or distortion of facts, adding that introducing new criminal provisions to deal with journalists was unacceptable.

Calling for the immediate withdrawal of the law, the ANP spokesperson said the party would continue to support freedom of the press, democratic traditions and the public’s right to information.

He also urged journalists’ bodies, lawyers, civil society organisations, political parties and all democratic stakeholders to raise a united voice against the legislation.

Peshawar: The Awami National Party (ANP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday termed the controversial law relating to journalists in the province as being against constitutional freedoms and freedom of the press.

In a statement, ANP KP Spokesperson Arsalan Khan Nazim said the law concerning restrictions on journalists and media amounted to a direct attack on democratic values, constitutional freedoms and press freedom.

He alleged that the legislation was aimed at curtailing the public’s right to information and discouraging criticism of the government’s performance.

The spokesperson further claimed that efforts to keep the law away from public and media scrutiny even after its approval reflected what he described as the government’s lack of transparency.

Arsalan Khan Nazim alleged that the law granted extraordinary powers to the Speaker to bar journalists from covering assembly proceedings, restrict the publication or broadcast of proceedings, and impose penalties, including imprisonment and fines, on journalists critical of the Speaker or the Assembly.

He said existing legal mechanisms were already available to address cases involving false reporting or distortion of facts, adding that introducing new criminal provisions to deal with journalists was unacceptable.

Calling for the immediate withdrawal of the law, the ANP spokesperson said the party would continue to support freedom of the press, democratic traditions and the public’s right to information.

He also urged journalists’ bodies, lawyers, civil society organisations, political parties and all democratic stakeholders to raise a united voice against the legislation.

Multan: Commissioner Amir Kareem Khan chaired a review meeting to assess the status of cotton crop across Multan division, with a particular focus on production, picking activities and the overall condition of the crop, here Wednesday.

During the meeting, officials gave a detailed briefing on the area under cultivation, crop progress and the ongoing cotton picking process.

Addressing the participants, the commissioner said, the district administration and the Agriculture Department were extending full support to farmers to help improve cotton production. He directed the agriculture officials to pay special attention to enhancing cotton yield and quality while ensuring effective guidance and technical assistance to growers.

He stressed that cotton is a vital cash crop and plays a significant role in strengthening the national economy, stressing the need for coordinated efforts to maximise production. The meeting was informed that cotton has been cultivated over 694,000 acres across Multan division this season. Of this, 224,000 acres comprise early-sown cotton, where the picking process is currently underway.

Multan: Commissioner Amir Kareem Khan chaired a review meeting to assess the status of cotton crop across Multan division, with a particular focus on production, picking activities and the overall condition of the crop, here Wednesday.

During the meeting, officials gave a detailed briefing on the area under cultivation, crop progress and the ongoing cotton picking process.

Addressing the participants, the commissioner said, the district administration and the Agriculture Department were extending full support to farmers to help improve cotton production. He directed the agriculture officials to pay special attention to enhancing cotton yield and quality while ensuring effective guidance and technical assistance to growers.

He stressed that cotton is a vital cash crop and plays a significant role in strengthening the national economy, stressing the need for coordinated efforts to maximise production. The meeting was informed that cotton has been cultivated over 694,000 acres across Multan division this season. Of this, 224,000 acres comprise early-sown cotton, where the picking process is currently underway.

Chiniot: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ayesha Rizwan, along with XEN Highways Muhammad Ahmed, MD WASA Muhammad Rafi, and Deputy Director Development Saeed Ahmed, visited the under-construction Chiniot-Faisalabad One-Way Road and reviewed the ongoing work on the development project in detail.

According to reporter correspondent, the DC inspected the progress of road construction, installation of the sewerage line, construction of the drain, and other development works.

The concerned officers briefed her on the various stages of the project and the progress made so far. Ayesha Rizwan directed that all construction works of the project should be completed to high standards and within the stipulated time frame.

She said that along with the construction of the road, timely completion of the drainage system, sewerage line, and drain should be ensured so that citizens do not face any problems in the future.

The DC directed the concerned departments to further accelerate the pace of work through mutual coordination, pay special attention to the quality of construction, and ensure timely completion of the project keeping public convenience in mind.

She made it clear that no compromise will be made on quality and transparency in the development projects of the Punjab government.

Chiniot: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ayesha Rizwan, along with XEN Highways Muhammad Ahmed, MD WASA Muhammad Rafi, and Deputy Director Development Saeed Ahmed, visited the under-construction Chiniot-Faisalabad One-Way Road and reviewed the ongoing work on the development project in detail.

According to reporter correspondent, the DC inspected the progress of road construction, installation of the sewerage line, construction of the drain, and other development works.

The concerned officers briefed her on the various stages of the project and the progress made so far. Ayesha Rizwan directed that all construction works of the project should be completed to high standards and within the stipulated time frame.

She said that along with the construction of the road, timely completion of the drainage system, sewerage line, and drain should be ensured so that citizens do not face any problems in the future.

The DC directed the concerned departments to further accelerate the pace of work through mutual coordination, pay special attention to the quality of construction, and ensure timely completion of the project keeping public convenience in mind.

She made it clear that no compromise will be made on quality and transparency in the development projects of the Punjab government.