Month: July 2026

Sialkot: The Motra Police arrested three members of Sani gang, including its ringleader, who were involved in motorcycle thefts and drug trafficking. As per release of the police, the suspects, including Zeeshan Ahsan, Wadala Sandhwan, Sajjad Ali and Subhan Ali. During the operation, the police recovered eight stolen motorcycles worth millions of rupees, along with approximately 5 kilograms of hashish.

Peshawar: More than 500 eminent religious scholars and spiritual leaders (Mashaikh) representing all schools of thought from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday unanimously reaffirmed their unwavering support for the State of Pakistan in its fight against terrorism, extremism and militancy, calling for indiscriminate and decisive action against terrorists and their facilitators.

The pledge was made during the National Paigham-e-Aman Ulema and Mashaikh Conference, organized by the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee (NPAC), Government of Pakistan, where participants adopted the comprehensive Peshawar Declaration, reaffirming their collective commitment to peace, constitutional supremacy, interfaith harmony, national cohesion and the eradication of terrorism and violent extremism.

The conference brought together more than 500 leading Ulema, Mashaikh, religious scholars, representatives of all schools of thought, minority faith leaders, academics, intellectuals, civil society representatives and social leaders from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Among those addressing the conference were Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi, Prime Minister’s Coordinator on the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology Dr. Raghib Hussain Naeemi, Mufti Abdul Rahim, Syed Ziaullah Shah Bukhari, Maulana Yousaf Kashmiri, Allama Arif Wahidi, Maulana Zubair Faheem, Maulana Zahid Mansoor, Mufti Jamil Rizvi, Sheikh Abdul Rehman, Maulana Sahib Hussain Haqqani, Mufti Abdul Ghani, Mufti Zain-ul-Abideen, Mufti Karim Khan, Mufti Dawood, Maulana Mikail, Maulana Amin-ur-Rehman, Mufti Abdul Rehman, Maulana Sheikh Rashid, Allama Muhammad Shoaib and Mufti Saeed Karimi.

The participants unanimously reaffirmed their complete endorsement of the Paigham-e-Pakistan national narrative, its unanimous religious decree (Fatwa) and Code of Conduct, describing them as the country’s guiding framework for promoting peace, moderation, constitutional order, religious tolerance, inter-sect and interfaith harmony, and national unity.

They unequivocally condemned terrorism, violent extremism, militancy, sectarianism, religious hatred, Takfir (excommunication), suicide attacks, ethnic and linguistic prejudice and every ideology or action that threatens Pakistan’s peace, stability and national cohesion.

They declared that Islam is a religion of peace, compassion, moderation and the protection of human dignity, and categorically rejected the killing of innocent people, attacks on mosques, Imambargahs, churches, temples, seminaries, educational institutions, hospitals, markets, public and private property, national installations and public assets, describing such acts as contrary to Islamic Shariah, the Constitution and the laws of Pakistan.

The religious scholars and leaders also reaffirmed that the authority to declare Jihad, employ armed force and exercise coercive power rests exclusively with the State of Pakistan, stressing that no individual, group or organization possesses any religious or legal justification to challenge the writ of the state or undertake armed action against it.

Paying tribute to the martyrs of the Pakistan Armed Forces, Police, Rangers, Frontier Corps, other law enforcement agencies and civilians who sacrificed their lives in the fight against terrorism, they expressed solidarity with their families and vowed that the nation would forever honour their sacrifices.

The declaration reiterated the participants’ unwavering commitment to extending full cooperation to the Government of Pakistan, the Pakistan Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies and all national security institutions in the collective struggle against terrorism, extremism, sectarianism and hate-driven violence.

The scholars further emphasized that respect for all schools of thought, all religions, the Prophets of Allah, the Mothers of the Believers, Ahl al-Bayt, the noble Companions of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), religious personalities, places of worship and religious symbols constitutes a fundamental requirement of Islamic teachings, the Constitution of Pakistan and national unity.

They pledged that all religious, sectarian and political differences would be resolved exclusively through the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, the Constitution of Pakistan, the rule of law, dialogue, wisdom and ethical conduct, rejecting violence, hatred and disorder as means of resolving disagreements.

The declaration called upon religious scholars, Mashaikh, Khateebs, Zakireen, preachers, teachers, seminaries, universities, mosques, Khanqahs and religious institutions to play an active role in promoting peace, moderation, tolerance, brotherhood and national unity through sermons, lectures, writings and public discourse.

It also urged the print, electronic and social media to refrain from disseminating falsehood, rumors, hate speech, abusive language, character assassination, incitement and sectarian content, while encouraging responsible journalism and communication that contributes to social harmony and national cohesion.

Recognizing the growing challenge of radicalization, they declared effective cooperation among religious scholars, parents, teachers, educational institutions, media organizations and state institutions essential for protecting young people from extremism, violence, hate-based ideologies and misleading propaganda.

The scholars reaffirmed that every citizen of Pakistan, irrespective of religion, school of thought, ethnicity or language, enjoys equal constitutional rights and that safeguarding the lives, property, dignity, places of worship and religious freedom of all citizens is a shared responsibility of the State and society.

The declaration also pledged continued collaboration among seminaries, universities, mosques, Khanqahs, educational institutions, civil society and community organizations to strengthen constitutional awareness, interfaith dialogue, inter-sect harmony, tolerance and national solidarity.

Emphasizing the need for national unity in addressing contemporary challenges, the participants declared that Pakistan’s internal and external challenges could only be overcome through constitutional supremacy, the rule of law, justice, mutual trust, tolerance and collective national resolve.

Reaffirming the future role of the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee, they pledged to continue working across Pakistan to promote peace, love, brotherhood, religious tolerance, interfaith and inter-sect harmony, eliminate terrorism and extremism, and strengthen national unity.

The conference concluded with a collective prayer for Pakistan’s lasting peace, stability, prosperity and unity, seeking divine protection for the country against terrorism, extremism, sectarianism and discord, praying for the elevation of the ranks of the martyrs, the recovery of the injured, and the continued safety of the Pakistan Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies and all those entrusted with defending the nation.

The participants also prayed that Almighty Allah grant the nation the strength to serve religion, the homeland and humanity in accordance with the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, the Constitution of Pakistan and the national interest, reaffirming their resolve to make Pakistan a cradle of peace, unity, stability and prosperity for generations to come.

Bhit shah: Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has said the the message of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai (RA), the great Sindhi Sufi saint and poet, was a universal message of love, peace, brotherhood and tolerance for all humanity.

Speaking to journalists during his visit to Bhit Shah on the occasion of the 283rd annual Urs celebrations of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai (RA), the governor said it was a matter of honour for him to attend the celebrations at the revered Sufi centre.

The Punjab governor laid a chadar on the shrine, offered Fateha and listened to Shah Jo Raag.

He said prominent Pakistan Peoples Party leaders, including Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, had also attended the Urs celebrations of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai (RA) on different occasions.

Commenting on the electoral process, Sardar Saleem Haider Khan expressed concern over delays in the announcement of results in some constituencies of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. He said transparent and timely elections were essential for strengthening democracy and the electoral process should be conducted in accordance with the expectations and trust of the people.

He said the Pakistan Peoples Party had always stood for the rights of poor and underprivileged sections of society and continued efforts to address public issues. He urged the media to play its role in highlighting problems faced by the people.

Rejecting criticism about Sindh’s infrastructure, the governor said he had travelled from Nawabshah to Bhit Shah on well-developed roads and termed claims portraying Sindh as a ‘ruined province’ contrary to facts. He also expressed concern over inflation, high electricity tariffs and the hardships faced by the public.

Sindh Minister for Culture and Tourism Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah said the teachings of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai (RA) promoted love, peace, brotherhood and humanity, adding that these values were needed more than ever across the country, particularly in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other regions.

He said the teachings of Sufi saints were an important part of the country’s spiritual and cultural heritage. The minister added that several cultural activities, including the Cultural Village and Sughars’ Kachehri, would also be held as part of the Urs celebrations.

Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah thanked Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan for attending the Urs, describing his participation as a symbol of inter-provincial harmony and appreciation for Sindh’s rich Sufi culture.

Multan: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) foiled an attempt to manufacture thousands of litres of substandard mango juice using rotten and fungus-infested mangoes during raids on two juice processing plants in Khanewal.

Acting on the directives of Director General PFA Raja Mansoor Ahmed, PFA inspection teams conducted raids on juice plants located on Kabirwala road and 6-Kassi road. During the operation, officials seized and destroyed 23,000 kilograms of rotten and fungus-contaminated mangoes that were intended for the production of mango juice and mango pulp.

The authority also imposed fine Rs250,000 on the owners of the two juice plants for violating food safety regulations.

According to the PFA, the spoiled fruit was to be processed into thousands of litres of unhealthy juice and mango pulp for sale in the market.

Director General Raja Mansoor Ahmed said that the crackdown against anti- health elements was underway on large scale basis. He reiterated that no leniency would be shown to those endangering public health.

Peshawar: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Wednesday said that promotion of peace, religious harmony and national unity was essential for the country’s stability and socio-economic development.

Addressing the National Message of Peace Ulema and Mashayikh Conference here as Chief Guest, the governor said Pakistan needed collective efforts to eliminate terrorism, extremism and sectarianism from society.

He said the country’s leadership and armed forces were making all-out efforts for national security, sovereignty and dignity. ‘We are proud of our brave armed forces, which have safeguarded the country’s honour and given a befitting response to threats,’ he added.

Governor Kundi said Pakistan played an important diplomatic role during regional tensions and appreciated the efforts of national leadership for promoting peace and stability.

He said the doors of Governor House were always open for the National Message of Peace Committee, adding that the mission of establishing peace was a collective responsibility of all segments of society.

The governor emphasised the vital role of religious scholars in guiding the youth and countering extremist narratives. He said the state could eliminate terrorist networks, but the eradication of extremist thinking required the active role of scholars, mosques and religious institutions.

He stressed the need for promoting interfaith and inter-sect harmony, saying that Pakistan’s diversity was its strength. He also paid tribute to the patriotic contributions of the country’s minorities.

Talking about Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Governor Kundi said the province was rich in natural resources and sustainable peace was indispensable for development and prosperity. He said peace in the province would open new avenues for investment and economic growth.

He said Pakistan had always supported Afghan people and welcomed them, but the use of Afghan territory for terrorism against Pakistan was unacceptable.

The governor said peace and stability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan were necessary for benefiting from the region’s resources and development potential. He called upon all political forces to rise above differences and work together for peace, progress and prosperity.

Talagang: Deputy Commissioner, Sarah Hayat has inaugurated a solar power system here at a government girls’ high school No. 1as part of an initiative to expand renewable energy use in public schools across Punjab.

The ceremony attended by Assistant Commissioner, Suleman Mansha, Chief Executive Officer (Education) Dr. Muhammad Akhlaq, education officials, teachers, students and the local residents.

Speaking at the event, the deputy commissioner said the project aligned with the Punjab government’s efforts to improve public education infrastructure and promote environmentally sustainable energy.

She said that solar power systems would provide a reliable electricity supply, improve classroom conditions and support more efficient use of public resources.

She also urged teachers to focus on quality education and character development, while encouraging students to value hard work, discipline and service to the country.

Chief Executive Officer (Education), Dr. Muhammad Akhlaq said solar power systems were planned for 128 government schools across Talagang .

He said installations have already been completed at 28 schools at a cost of about Rs 24 million, while work was underway at three additional schools and progressing at another 15.

The deputy commissioner eulogized the tehsil administration, school management and donors for their contributions, reaffirming the district administration’s commitment to strengthening educational infrastructure and improving learning opportunities.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, she presented appreciation certificates to philanthropists supporting the project, adding the cooperation between public institutions and the community would help advance reforms in the education sector.