NATIONALThe Lahore High Court has upheld the Pakistan Airports Authority’s refusal to restore airport entry passes and taxi stickers of cab drivers at Lahore airport. The court ruled that access to restricted airport premises is a regulated permission, not a vested right.
NATIONALTwo policemen, including an additional SHO, were martyred when militants attacked a patrol in Mohmand on Thursday night, police said. Another officer was injured and a search operation was launched in the area.
NATIONALThe Balochistan government says it will soon launch a convoy system on provincial highways to improve the safety of cargo and passenger traffic. Business representatives raised concerns over attacks on vehicles, robberies and damaged infrastructure.
NATIONALHeavy rains in Balochistan killed four people, including a woman and three children, and injured more than a dozen others. The downpour also damaged homes, roads, crops and power infrastructure in several districts.
NATIONALPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reviewed the law and order situation in AJK and was told protests had eased in several areas. A sit-in continued in Rawalakot, while Muzaffarabad and nearby areas were reported calm.
NATIONALBalochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti told a tribal jirga in Awaran that peace in the district would be protected and development accelerated. He said new projects and long-term schemes were being pursued for Awaran and the wider Makran region.
BusinessThe Pakistan Stock Exchange posted a third straight gain on Thursday, with the KSE-100 index closing up 470.86 points at 184,520.96. The benchmark briefly crossed 185,000 during intraday trade before late profit-taking trimmed gains.
SportsA Seven Summit Treks expedition has made the first successful 8,000-metre ascent of Pakistan’s summer climbing season by summiting Nanga Parbat. Separately, an Italian team opened a new route on K7 but turned back below the top due to dangerous conditions.
WorldRussia’s overnight barrage on Kyiv killed at least 25 people and wounded at least 85 in the deadliest attack on the capital this year. Ukrainian officials said nearly 500 drones and 74 missiles were launched in the assault.
WorldIran is preparing several days of funeral rites for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with ceremonies set for Tehran, Qom, Mashhad and Iraq. Authorities are also arranging transport, lodging and public venues for mourners.
PoliticsPTI leaders Salman Akram Raja and Junaid Akbar Khan said on Thursday that Imran Khan’s release remains the party’s main objective. They also criticised the government and spoke about political conditions in Punjab and Balochistan.
NATIONALA Senate panel has decided to send its findings on alleged irregularities in foreign-funded power projects to the prime minister and to seek direct NAB and FIA probes. The move followed a dispute with the Economic Affairs Division over jurisdiction and procedure.
