Day: July 18, 2026

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ATC extends PTI leader’s judicial remand by 14 days


Lahore: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday extended the judicial remand of PTI leader Ghulam Mohiuddin Dewan by 14 days in a May 9 case involving alleged incendiary speeches and arson at Sherpao Bridge.

The accused was produced before the court from prison upon the expiry of his previous judicial remand.

During the hearing, the investigating officer informed the court that the supplementary challan in the case was in the final stages of preparation and would be submitted shortly.

ATC Judge Manzer Ali Gill, after hearing the matter, extended the accused’s judicial remand for another 14 days.

According to the prosecution, Ghulam Mohiuddin Dewan was present at the scene of the incident and was allegedly involved in delivering provocative speeches and acts of arson and vandalism at Sherpao Bridge on May 9.

Police stated that the accused has been arrested in FIR No. 97/23 registered at Sarwar Road Police Station and is alleged to have participated in the incident along with other PTI leaders.

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12th meeting of SCO Member States’ Border Services Heads held


Islamabad: The twelfth meeting of the Heads of Border Services of the Competent Authorities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States was held here on Friday under the chairmanship of Pakistan.



The meeting was attended by the heads and representatives of the border services of the competent authorities of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People’s Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), a Ministry of Foreign Affairs news release said.



The meeting was held in a constructive and cordial atmosphere, where the participants exchanged information and assessments regarding the situation along the international borders of the SCO Member States, as well as trends and forecasts relating to its development.



During the meeting, the participants discussed and approved the results of the Joint Border Operation ‘Solidarity-2025’, conducted by the border services of the competent authorities of the SCO Member States, considered and approved the plan for the preparation and conduct of the Joint Border Operation ‘Solidarity-2026’, approved the Work Plan of the Group of Experts of the Border Services of the Competent Authorities of the SCO Member States for 2027, supported the proposal of the Republic of Tajikistan to host the Joint Border Operation ‘Solidarity-2027’ in 2027 and discussed proposals regarding the venue and timing of the next meeting of the Heads of Border Services of the Competent Authorities of the SCO Member States.



The participants noted that the exchange of views and the development of common positions on countering emerging challenges and threats along the borders of the SCO Member States would contribute to further strengthening cooperation among their border services, while enhancing security and mutual trust along their shared borders.



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PHOTA approves transplant licences for three hospitals, plans paperless system


Lahore: The Punjab Human Organ Transplantation Authority (PHOTA) on Friday approved renal transplantation licences for Multan Institute of Kidney Diseases and Saleem Memorial Hospital Lahore, while Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Center (PKLIandRC), Lahore, was granted permission to perform pancreas transplantation for the next three years.



The approvals were granted during the 40th meeting of the PHOTA Monitoring Authority chaired by Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique. The meeting endorsed the recommendations of the Executive Committee after inspections of the respective hospitals.



Director General PHOTA Prof. Dr. Muhammad Aamir Zaman Khan presented various agenda items for approval. The meeting approved the minutes of the 39th Monitoring Authority meeting and reviewed the implementation report of its decisions. Members also approved the revised budget estimates for the financial year 2025-26 and the budget estimates for 2026-27.



The meeting also considered several proposals to transform PHOTA into a paperless organization and approved the purchase of premises for the authority’s head office.



Speaking on the occasion, Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique said the Punjab Human Organ Transplantation Authority was being strengthened in line with the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to expand its capacity and provide the best possible healthcare facilities to the people. He said strict action was being taken against those involved in the illegal transplantation of human organs, adding that PHOTA had played a significant role in saving thousands of lives.



The Director General PHOTA said the authority was being developed on modern lines in accordance with the Punjab government’s vision. He emphasized that individuals involved in illegal human organ transplantation in Punjab deserved no leniency.



The meeting was attended by Additional Secretary (Technical) Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Waseem and other officials. President Pakistan Medical Association Dr. Izhar Ahmed Chaudhry, Editor-in-Chief Pakistan Society of Gastroenterology Prof. Ghiyas-un-Nabi Tayyab, President Ophthalmological Society of Pakistan Lahore Chapter Prof. Javed Chaudhry, Senior Research Officer National Health Research Complex Saima Naz Mohsin, Additional Secretary Home Department Abdul Rauf and other members also participated. Dean PKLIandRC Prof. Faisal Saud Dar, Dr. Arif Nadeem and Dr. Muhammad Yasir Khan from the Transplantation Society attended the meeting through video link.



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Surrender by convict mandatory before filing appeal in SC, appeal rejected for non-compliance


Islamabad: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) has ruled that it was a mandatory legal requirement for a convicted person to surrender to the law before filing an appeal in the Supreme Court, and failure to fulfill this condition rendered the appeal inadmissible.



According to a written order issued by the Supreme Court in its appellate jurisdiction, the court upheld an objection raised by the Registrar’s Office and rejected a criminal miscellaneous appeal filed by Zainul Abideen, alias Zain, who was convicted under the Punjab Food Authority Act.



The appellant’s counsel, Shahid Mahmood Khan Khilji, argued that the Judicial Magistrate Section 30 of Lahore had granted bail to the accused to file an appeal while suspending the execution of the sentence on the grounds that it was less than one year.



Therefore, he contended, the Registrar’s Office’s objection was invalid. He further added that the Lahore High Court had rejected the appeal on August 1, 2025, solely on the grounds of time-barring, and that the appellant was prepared to surrender and submit surety bonds.



The court stated that under Order 23, Rule 8 of the Supreme Court Rules 1980, it was mandatory for a convict to surrender before filing an appeal.



The court further noted that no change has been made to this legal requirement in the Supreme Court Rules 2025; therefore, the principle established in the Muhammad Adnan case remained fully applicable to the present case.



The court concluded that since the appellant failed to meet the mandatory condition of surrendering, the objection raised by the Registrar’s Office was in accordance with the law, and the criminal miscellaneous appeal was rejected as being inadmissible.



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Six killed, 1,726 injured in 1,490 road accidents across Punjab


Lahore: At least six people were killed and 1,726 others injured in 1,490 road traffic accidents reported across Punjab during the last 24 hours, according to the Emergency Services Department (Rescue 1122).



A spokesperson said emergency teams responded to road accidents in all 37 districts of the province. Of the total injured, 731 with serious injuries were shifted to hospitals, while 995 victims with minor injuries were provided first aid at the scene by rescue medical teams.



According to the data, the victims included 1,037 drivers, 70 underage drivers, 145 pedestrians and 550 passengers.



Lahore recorded the highest number of road traffic accidents, with 289 crashes affecting 357 people, followed by Multan with 100 accidents involving 106 victims. Gujranwala ranked third with 75 accidents in which 84 people were affected.



The spokesperson said 1,620 motorcycles, 116 auto-rickshaws, 148 cars, 25 vans, eight passenger buses, 46 trucks and 85 other vehicles and slow-moving carts were involved in the reported road accidents.



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IHC fixes July 24, for hearing Imaan Mazari, Hadi Ali Chattha’s appeals


Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has fixed July 24, for hearing the suspension of sentence applications filed by lawyer Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha in the controversial tweets case.



According to the cause list issued by the IHC Registrar’s Office, Justice Muhammad Azam Khan will hear the applications.



Earlier, the Supreme Court, in its July 12 order, directed the Islamabad High Court to decide the suspension of sentence pleas within two weeks.



The case had previously been fixed for hearing before the IHC on June 4, but the cause list was later cancelled.



Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has also scheduled the suspension of sentence applications of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha for hearing on July 21.