Day: July 9, 2026

Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Khan Afridi has directed the Speaker to convene a meeting of parliamentary leaders to review amendments to the Parliamentarians’ Privileges Bill following media criticism.

Addressing the provincial cabinet, the Chief Minister said the issues raised by the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the journalist community should be reviewed.

He said the government believes in freedom of expression and public opinion will be given priority in all decisions.

The Chief Minister said public concerns and issues raised by journalists should be reconsidered. He stated that the KP government takes no illegal action, and even in cases of false propaganda, matters are pursued through courts.

He directed that public opinion and public interest be given priority in all decisions.

Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Khan Afridi has directed the Speaker to convene a meeting of parliamentary leaders to review amendments to the Parliamentarians’ Privileges Bill following media criticism.

Addressing the provincial cabinet, the Chief Minister said the issues raised by the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the journalist community should be reviewed.

He said the government believes in freedom of expression and public opinion will be given priority in all decisions.

The Chief Minister said public concerns and issues raised by journalists should be reconsidered. He stated that the KP government takes no illegal action, and even in cases of false propaganda, matters are pursued through courts.

He directed that public opinion and public interest be given priority in all decisions.

Sargodha: The Sargodha Union of Journalists (Workers) on Wednesday held a condolence meeting to express deep sorrow and grief over the demise of the wife of SUJ President and PFUJ Additional General Secretary Umar Farooq Gondal.

The meeting, chaired by Senior Vice President Chaudhry Athar Nadeem, was attended by a large number of senior journalists, including Makhdoom Shah Latif, AR Saleem, Manzoor Mumtaz Ansari, Rao Muhammad Tufail, General Secretary Rana Muhammad Ashraf, Information Secretary Azhar Hussain, Tanveer Ahmad Qureshi, Rana Muhammad Waqas, and other members of the journalistic community.

The participants offered Fateha for the departed soul and expressed their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, describing the death as a profound loss.

Speaking on the occasion, Senior Vice President Chaudhry Athar Nadeem said that the entire journalist community of Sargodha stands in solidarity with Umar Farooq Gondal during this difficult time. He prayed that Allah Almighty may grant the deceased the highest rank in Jannah and bless the bereaved family with patience and strength.

General Secretary Rana Muhammad Ashraf and Information Secretary Azhar Hussain also addressed the gathering, stating that the journalistic fraternity shares the grief of their colleague and stands firmly by him in this hour of sorrow.

The meeting concluded with special prayers for the eternal peace of the departed soul and for the bereaved family to be granted patience and fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Sargodha: The Sargodha Union of Journalists (Workers) on Wednesday held a condolence meeting to express deep sorrow and grief over the demise of the wife of SUJ President and PFUJ Additional General Secretary Umar Farooq Gondal.

The meeting, chaired by Senior Vice President Chaudhry Athar Nadeem, was attended by a large number of senior journalists, including Makhdoom Shah Latif, AR Saleem, Manzoor Mumtaz Ansari, Rao Muhammad Tufail, General Secretary Rana Muhammad Ashraf, Information Secretary Azhar Hussain, Tanveer Ahmad Qureshi, Rana Muhammad Waqas, and other members of the journalistic community.

The participants offered Fateha for the departed soul and expressed their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, describing the death as a profound loss.

Speaking on the occasion, Senior Vice President Chaudhry Athar Nadeem said that the entire journalist community of Sargodha stands in solidarity with Umar Farooq Gondal during this difficult time. He prayed that Allah Almighty may grant the deceased the highest rank in Jannah and bless the bereaved family with patience and strength.

General Secretary Rana Muhammad Ashraf and Information Secretary Azhar Hussain also addressed the gathering, stating that the journalistic fraternity shares the grief of their colleague and stands firmly by him in this hour of sorrow.

The meeting concluded with special prayers for the eternal peace of the departed soul and for the bereaved family to be granted patience and fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to introduce a new Land Acquisition Act to provide permanent solution to land acquisition issues and preventing future legal disputes.

The announcement was made by provincial law minister, Aftab Alam during a meeting of standing Committee on Land Acquisition that was also attended by provincial cabinet members Meena Khan Afridi, Muzammil Aslam, MPA Zahir Shah Toru, and senior officials from the Higher Education Department, Board of Revenue, Finance Department, Agriculture Department and Advocate General’s Office.

The committee reviewed legal, administrative and financial matters relating to the transfer of land acquired for various public welfare and development projects. Participants were briefed on pending cases, decree amounts, land ownership transfers, record completion and obstacles delaying the implementation of several development schemes.

Officials informed the meeting that most of the land had been acquired under valuation rates applicable at the time of acquisition. However, significant changes in official valuation rates over the years have created legal, financial and administrative complications affecting land transfers and compensation payments.

The committee was further informed that, in accordance with court judgments issued in 2018 and 2019, the applicable markup on compensation would be calculated from the dates of those decisions and the financial implications of the rulings are currently under review.

Participants of meeting also discussed the issue of decretal amounts relating to the Mardan Ring Road project and .examined proposals for revising relevant provisions in finance bill to address liabilities arising from court decrees.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of progress on directives issued to a sub-committee, law minister directed all concerned departments to ensure timely implementation of committee decisions.

He said legal and administrative hurdles in public interest projects would not be tolerated adding that all pending matters must be resolved in accordance with the principles of law, justice and transparency to safeguard both government interests and the rights of affected landowners.

The minister instructed relevant departments to conduct a comprehensive legal and financial review of all pending cases and prepare practical recommendations keeping in view current valuation rates, judicial decisions and existing laws.

He said the provincial government would soon introduce a new Land Acquisition Act to establish a transparent, efficient and modern legal framework for land acquisition, compensation and transfer of ownership, thereby minimizing litigation in future.

Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to introduce a new Land Acquisition Act to provide permanent solution to land acquisition issues and preventing future legal disputes.

The announcement was made by provincial law minister, Aftab Alam during a meeting of standing Committee on Land Acquisition that was also attended by provincial cabinet members Meena Khan Afridi, Muzammil Aslam, MPA Zahir Shah Toru, and senior officials from the Higher Education Department, Board of Revenue, Finance Department, Agriculture Department and Advocate General’s Office.

The committee reviewed legal, administrative and financial matters relating to the transfer of land acquired for various public welfare and development projects. Participants were briefed on pending cases, decree amounts, land ownership transfers, record completion and obstacles delaying the implementation of several development schemes.

Officials informed the meeting that most of the land had been acquired under valuation rates applicable at the time of acquisition. However, significant changes in official valuation rates over the years have created legal, financial and administrative complications affecting land transfers and compensation payments.

The committee was further informed that, in accordance with court judgments issued in 2018 and 2019, the applicable markup on compensation would be calculated from the dates of those decisions and the financial implications of the rulings are currently under review.

Participants of meeting also discussed the issue of decretal amounts relating to the Mardan Ring Road project and .examined proposals for revising relevant provisions in finance bill to address liabilities arising from court decrees.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of progress on directives issued to a sub-committee, law minister directed all concerned departments to ensure timely implementation of committee decisions.

He said legal and administrative hurdles in public interest projects would not be tolerated adding that all pending matters must be resolved in accordance with the principles of law, justice and transparency to safeguard both government interests and the rights of affected landowners.

The minister instructed relevant departments to conduct a comprehensive legal and financial review of all pending cases and prepare practical recommendations keeping in view current valuation rates, judicial decisions and existing laws.

He said the provincial government would soon introduce a new Land Acquisition Act to establish a transparent, efficient and modern legal framework for land acquisition, compensation and transfer of ownership, thereby minimizing litigation in future.