CM Afridi condemns deadly attack on Izzat Gul, vows terrorists’ elimination


Peshawar: Chief Minister, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Muhammad Suhail Afridi on Wednesday strongly condemned the attack on tribal elder and Peace Committee member Haji Izzat Gul in Hangu, expressing profound grief over his martyrdom.



The Chief Minister extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, stating that the attack was not only an assault on a respected tribal leader but also on peace, stability and tribal traditions. He described the incident as a cowardly act deserving the strongest condemnation.



Afridi paid tribute to Haji Izzat Gul’s valuable contributions to maintaining peace and combating terrorism, saying his sacrifices would always be remembered. He also acknowledged the remarkable role and sacrifices of tribal elders in the fight against terrorism, calling them unforgettable and worthy of the nation’s respect.



Reaffirming the government’s resolve, the Chief Minister said terrorists would never succeed in their malicious designs and that the government, together with the public would continue efforts to eradicate terrorism completely.



He also announced a Shaheed Package for the family of Haji Izzat Gul, assuring that the sacrifices of martyrs would not go in vain and that all possible measures would continue to ensure lasting peace across the province.



Woman, daughter injured in roof collapse incident


Faisalabad: A woman and her daughter suffered injuries in roof collapse incident in Chak no.160-RB, Banga,tehsil Chak Jhumra here on Wednesday.



Rescue-1122 said that the dilapidated roof caved in due to continuous rain and two people were trapped under the debris.



Upon information,Rescue team reached the site immediately and recovered them.



The victim,Nazia Bibi, wife of Azam Ali suffered serious injuries and was rushed to Allied hospital,while her 7-year-old daughter Maryam was shifted to THQ hospital.



PPP leaders express confidence of strong showing in July 27 AJK Elections


Mirpur: Former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Wednesday expressed confidence that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would secure a decisive victory in the July 27 Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections, saying the large turnout at an election rally in Nikyal reflected growing public support for the party. Addressing the gathering despite heavy rainfall, Ashraf said the enthusiastic participation of supporters indicated that the PPP was well positioned to win all seats in Kotli district. He also conveyed greetings from PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and urged voters to support PPP candidate Haji Javed Iqbal Budhanvi on polling day.



The rally was attended by senior PPP leaders, including former federal minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, PPP AJK President Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin, Syed Hassan Murtaza, Malik Zafar Iqbal, Nabeela Ayub and Shazia Akbar. Addressing party workers, Kaira called on supporters to intensify the election campaign and work collectively to secure what he described as a historic victory for the party, while describing Nikyal as a traditional PPP stronghold.



Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin said the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir stood with the PPP and urged voters to participate in the electoral process without fear. PPP candidate Haji Javed Iqbal Budhanvi reaffirmed his commitment to the party’s manifesto and pledged to work for the welfare and development of the constituency if elected, while other speakers reiterated the party’s commitment to democratic values, public rights and development.



PPP leaders said the large public gathering demonstrated increasing confidence in the party’s leadership and vision ahead of the polls. They urged party workers to strengthen voter outreach, take the party’s message to every household and remain united to ensure the success of PPP candidates in the July 27 elections.



33 arrested, narcotics recovered


Sargodha: Police after launching a massive crack down arrested 33 criminals across the district on Wednesday.



A police spokesman said different police stations raided at different localities and arrested Sohail, Shoaib, Imran, Nouman, Aftab, khizer, Sami-ullah, Wasim, Wasif, Tayyeb, Altaf and others. Police recovered drugs and weapons, including hashish 1.5 kg,opium 1.2 kg ,liqour 122 liters ,pistols 3, guns 2, and 98 bullets from them.



Police also recovered valuables worth in millions of rupees from them.



Dist admin on alert to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply


Lodhran: Acting on the directions of the Punjab government,the district administration has stepped up efforts to ensure the uninterrupted supply of petroleum products across the district,here on Wednesday.



Deputy Commissioner(DC),Muhammad Ashraf chaired a meeting with owners of petrol pumps to review the fuel supply chain and discuss measures to maintain a smooth supply of petroleum products.



Addressing the meeting,the DC said the district administration was working to strengthen the fuel supply chain, stressing that close monitoring of supply and demand was essential to prevent shortages.



He urged petrol pump owners to act responsibly in the national interest and give priority to the collective interest during challenging circumstances.



Muhammad Ashraf said the business interests of petrol pump owners were linked to the uninterrupted sale.



He informed participants that responsible staff had been assigned for stock inspections and directed pump owners to provide demand and supply data to the District Officer (Industries) for effective monitoring.



The DC also called upon petrol pump owners to support the district administration’s tree plantation campaign, noting that trees play a vital role in reducing air pollution and improving the environment.



He said designated areas would be allocated for plantation and maintenance to pump owners.



Additional Deputy Commissioners Liaqat Ali Gilani and Hafiz Muhammad Zafar along with Civil Defence Officer Tahir Abbas Bhutta also attended the meeting.



Police signs pact for AI, digital skills training at subsidized fees


Faisalabad: Regional Police Faisalabad has signed an agreement with Globify Institute to provide police officers and their family members with subsidized training in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Information Technology (IT) and other emerging digital disciplines.



According to Regional Police spokesman Rizwan Bhatti, Regional Police Officer (RPO) Faisalabad Sohail Akhtar Sukhaira and Chief Executive Officer of Globify Institute Muhammad Shoaib signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of their institutions.



Under this agreement, police officers and their family members will receive special fee concessions for a range of market-oriented professional courses designed to equip learners with modern digital competencies and enhance their career prospects.



The training program will cover artificial intelligence (AI), Information Technology (IT), digital marketing, full-stack web development, graphic designing, video editing, social media marketing and career guidance, he added.



He said that the agreement also provides substantial educational support for the families of police personnel. Children of police martyrs and officers who died during service will receive 100 percent waiver in monthly tuition fees.



Similarly, children of Ghazi police officers will be entitled to 75 percent fee concession, while children of serving and retired police personnel will receive 50 percent reduction in monthly tuition fees, he added.



Speaking on the occasion, RPO Sohail Akhtar Sukhaira said that the initiative aimed to ensure easier access to quality training programs for police officers and their families, enabling them to benefit from the opportunities created by rapid technological advancement.



He said that artificial intelligence and modern digital skills had become essential requirements in today’s world, making it imperative to prepare the younger generation for emerging employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.



He said that provision of quality and affordable education to the children of police personnel is one of the top priorities of police department. The regional police were committed to support higher education for the children of police martyrs, Ghazi officers, and serving and retired employees through meaningful educational partnerships, he added.