NATIONALThe NCCIA has arrested a man in Multan for allegedly posting anti-army and anti-state content on social media. Separately, the FIA said it detained five suspects in Lahore over alleged hawala/hundi and illegal currency business, recovering over Rs11.2 million.
NATIONALThe Sindh High Court has directed provincial and local authorities to file reports within three weeks on the status of billboards in Karachi and steps taken against illegal and hazardous structures. The court also ordered officials to ensure no unsafe or unauthorised billboards remain in place.
NATIONALMalir police said they arrested a suspect in Shah Latif Town and seized ecstasy pills worth over Rs10 million. Police said the man was allegedly selling the drugs online to students.
NATIONALAn accountability court in Karachi has issued perpetual non-bailable arrest warrants for Malik Riaz, his son and other accused in the Bahria Town Karachi land grab case. NAB alleges around 17,000 acres of public land were unlawfully transferred, causing losses of over Rs708.08 billion.
NATIONALThe Balochistan government has imposed Section 144 in border areas to curb illegal wheat movement and hoarding. Authorities have been ordered to seize unlawfully stored wheat, with the restrictions to remain in force for two months.
BusinessThe Arif Habib-led consortium has established PIA Equity Ltd to complete its acquisition of Pakistan International Airlines. The group has already bought 75pc of PIACL for Rs135 billion and submitted financial guarantees for the remaining 25pc stake.
NATIONALAPNEC has called on the federal and provincial governments to immediately restore advertisements to Dawn, saying the suspension has caused severe financial hardship for media workers. The demand was made at a meeting in Karachi, where participants also backed united action on workers’ issues.
HEALTHA mpox patient from Muzaffargarh has been placed in isolation at Nishtar Hospital in Multan after testing positive through PCR-based analysis. Health officials said the patient, who recently returned from Dubai, is being monitored by specialists.
PoliticsKP Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati and PTI candidate Irfan Saleem have challenged the ECP’s suspension of a Senate by-election in the Peshawar High Court. They argue the March 25 de-notification of Murad Saeed created a lawful vacancy that must be filled within 30 days.
CLIMATE CHANGEThe Breathe Pakistan International Climate Change Conference will now be held at Serena Hotel in Islamabad instead of the Jinnah Convention Centre. Organisers said the venue was changed due to unavoidable circumstances, while all other details remain unchanged.
SportsPalestinian football chief Jibril Rajoub refused to pose for a photo with Israeli official Basim Sheikh Suliman at Fifa’s Congress in Vancouver. Rajoub also urged Fifa to act fairly in the dispute over Israeli clubs based in West Bank settlements.
WorldIndia’s April gold imports are expected to fall to around 15 tonnes, near a 30-year low, after banks halted shipments over a 3pc tax demand. Industry and government sources said the disruption followed customs action and a delay in a formal order on bullion imports.
