ATLANTA: Morocco will be chasing not only victory but also goals against already-eliminated Haiti in Atlanta on Wednesday, eager to finish top of their World Cup group ahead of Brazil.

It would be a statement success for the North Africans, who have four points from their opening two Group ‘C’ games and made an immediate

impression when they had Brazil on the back foot in their drawn first match at the tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Morocco, who then beat Scotland in Boston on Friday, have picked up where they left off from the last World Cup in Qatar, where they became the first African and Arab country to reach the semi-finals.

Brazil will be playing Scotland at the same time in Miami, and if both the five-time world champions and Morocco win their last group games, then top place in Group ‘C’ will be decided on goal difference.

Neymar could make his first appearance at this year’s World Cup in the match against Scotland as the Brazilian on Monday took part in his first tactical and team training under coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Team-mate Gabriel Martinelli said Neymar looked ready.

“He’s performing at a very high level and you could see the intensity in today’s training session.

You could see how keen he is to be with us, and his quality is unquestionable,” Martinelli told a press conference on Monday.

“Whether he’ll play or not is a question for the manager, but I think he’s in great shape.”

A 3-0 win for the Brazilians against Haiti in Philadelphia on Friday gives them a better goal difference than Morocco, whose coach Mohamed Ouahbi said the Caribbean team would pose a difficult challenge despite their early exit.

But if they want to usurp Brazil and take top place, Morocco will have to be on the all-out attack.

The Group ‘C’ winner takes on the runners-up in

Group ‘F’, and the second-place finisher in Group ‘C’ is up against the top side in Group ‘F’, where the Netherlands, Japan, and Sweden are all in the running.

Haiti were the first team eliminated from the tournament after losing to Scotland and then Brazil but promised there would be no drop in intensity from their team.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

EAST RUTHERFORD: Erling Haaland said Norway must be realistic about what they can achieve at the World Cup after qualifying for the last 32 on Monday with a 3-2 win over Senegal.

Norway substitute Marcus Holmgren Pedersen struck late in the first half in New Jersey before Haaland doubled the lead shortly after the break.

Ismaila Sarr cut the deficit for Senegal, only for Haaland to punish more slack defending as Norway moved through to the knockout rounds with a game to spare despite a late consolation from Sarr.

Haaland followed up his brace in the opening 4-1 victory over Iran with two more goals as Norway won consecutive games at the World Cup for the first time.

Norway have lost just one of their past 18 matches and will take on 2022 runners-up France in Boston on Friday to determine the winners of Group ‘I’.

But Haaland cautioned against getting carried away after a strong start to their first World Cup since 1998.

“To qualify for the first time in 28 years and going through the group stage ‘I’ would say, yes. To win the World Cup, absolutely not,” said Haaland. “We’ve won 12 games in a row now. I’m part of something special, making history, and I’m extremely proud to be Norwegian.”

In this tournament, Haaland is level with Kylian Mbappe on four goals and one behind Lionel Messi. Haaland meanwhile took his international tally to 59 goals in 52 games.

“I think it’s my speciality, to score goals,” said Haaland. “It’s like many others things, I’m just really good at scoring goals and I’m quite lucky.”

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw must hold out hope his team can beat Iraq in their final game to have a chance of reaching the knockout phase.

“A tough match against a team that caused us problems; they were very clinical and scored two goals at the worst possible times,” said Thiaw. “After the first goal we regrouped, but we conceded a second. We have to encourage the players because it’s not easy.

“We need to focus on this last match and give everything to get the three points and keep hoping. It’s difficult, but we’re not dead yet.”

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

The co-hosts enter their last group match at Estadio Azteca with six points from two games, having beaten South Africa and South Korea without conceding a goal.

Czech Republic arrive with one point after a 2-1 defeat by South Korea and a 1-1 draw with South Africa, leaving them in urgent need of a result to keep their tournament hopes alive. That imbalance gives the match its edge.

Mexico remain the better-positioned team as they are unbeaten and backed by a home crowd, but Czech Republic’s greater urgency, combined with the possibility of Mexican rotation, could make the night more complicated for the hosts.

Coach Javier Aguirre faces the familiar dilemma of an already-qualified team of whether to protect key players before the knockout stage or maintain rhythm and momentum in front of their own supporters.

The Czechs’ problem has been turning promising positions into results. They led against South Korea before losing, then went ahead against South Africa through Michal Sadilek before conceding a late penalty.

Coach Miroslav Koubek said after the draw with the African side that Czech Republic had been closer to victory, a reflection of both their threat and the frustration of failing to turn pressure into three points.

In the other Group ‘A’ fixture on Wednesday, South Africa and South Korea both have victory on their agenda for their decisive clash in Monterrey where similar playing styles could produce an eye-catching spectacle.

Progress to the last 32 is still alive for all the other protagonists in the group, either as runners-up or, if they get enough points, as one of the best eight third-placed finishers across the 12 first-round groups.

South Korea, with three points, are in a superior position to the basement Group ‘A’ side South Africa, who have a single point and an inferior goal difference to the Koreans.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

The big win in Houston put Portugal on the brink of the knockout rounds and was a resounding response to the 41-year-old’s doubters.

Ronaldo’s goal after six minutes made history — trumping even Lionel Messi — by scoring at six World Cups stretching back to 2006.

The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus ace pulled out his trademark “Siu” celebration and let out a throaty roar in front of 68,777 fans.

After Nuno Mendes made it 2-0, Ronaldo neatly got his second with a cool finish six minutes before the break.

That took him to 10 World Cup goals, more than any other Portuguese player including the great Eusebio.

Ronaldo came into the group encounter against tournament debutants Uzbekistan with 143 goals, the most in international men’s football.

But once widely regarded as a competitor to Messi for the unofficial title of best player,his powers have been on the wane at the highest level.

He had limited service in the disappointing 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo to start Portugal’s World Cup title bid.

But when he did have two chances he missed the target, igniting calls for coach Roberto Martinez to drop him.

His travails in front of goal were in glaring contrast to the likes of Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane, who all made lightning starts to the World Cup.

But Martinez has stuck defiantly by his skipper, who was given a rapturous reception when he came out to warm up at Houston Stadium, and again each time he appeared on the big screens.

Ronaldo nearly pounced after just three minutes, narrowly failing to make contact at the far post after a cross by Mendes. Ronaldo slapped the turf in frustration.

He did not have to wait long for his goal, swivelling on the six-yard box to meet a cross first time from Joao Cancelo and smash the ball beyond goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov.

The outclassed Uzbeks, coached by the Italian 2006 World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro, were perfect opponents for Ronaldo to rediscover his scoring boots.

It was 2-0 on 17 minutes when Mendes curled in a free-kick.

The Uzbeks thought they had pulled one back, after a screamer by Azizjon Ganiev, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR intervention for a foul on Cancelo.

It was Ronaldo’s day, and he rolled in a third with only the goalkeeper to beat with a smart, controlled finish.

He might have had a third following an intricate freekick routine, but Nematov denied him, clattering into the veteran attacker in the process.

From the resulting corner it was 4-0, with Ronaldo in the thick of it again before the ball went in off Nematov for an own goal.

Substitute Rafael Leao scored an emphatic fifth in the 87th minute.

Before this, the evidence against Ronaldo was beginning to stack up.

In the previous 10 games at major competitions (World Cup and Euros) before the Uzbekistan match, he had zero goals and one assist.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

Nadhir Benbouali’s header cancelled out Nizar Al-Rashdan’s first-half opener and Amine Gouiri poked home in a goalmouth scramble eight minutes from time to revive Algeria’s campaign.

Coach Vladimir Petkovic’s side had been outclassed 3-0 by the defending champions but showed resilience and determination to beat and eliminate Jordan, who were riding a wave of euphoria from their first-ever World Cup appearance.

In the all-Arab clash at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Algeria, who used 14 players from clubs across seven European countries, combined precise passing with deft touches and adventurous runs in a relentless push to get their World Cup back on track.

“We had the mental strength to come back, and I think we’re continuing to improve. This victory, earned with character and determination, will do us the world of good,” Gouiri said.

“It could be a turning point. A win is always good, especially for confidence given the way the match unfolded. We’re very happy, but we know nothing is done yet. We’ve taken an important step.”

Algeria face Austria in their final Group ‘J’ game on Saturday.

Many of Jordanians fans gathered in central Amman to watch their team’s match against Algeria early on Tuesday but a stampede broke out in which one person died and eight others were injured, Jordan News Agency reported citing the country’s Public Security Directorate (PSD).

The incident occurred at Hashemite Square, where large numbers of fans had gathered in the capital, according to the Jordan News Agency.

Emergency teams transported nine injured people to hospital after heavy congestion and crowd movement at the venue led to the crush. One of those injured later died, while the others sustained minor to moderate injuries, it reported citing the PSD.

Experts were investigating to determine the exact cause of death, it added.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

PHILADELPHIA: France manager Didier Deschamps suggested Kylian Mbappe will eventually claim the all-time World Cup goals record after the 27-year-old striker scored his second double of the tournament in Mondays 3-0 win over Iraq.

Mbappe’s third and fourth goals of the finals pulled him level with Germany’s former all-time record holder Miroslav Klose on 16 for his career.

He is now two behind Lionel Messi, who has already scored five times in this tournament despite approaching his 39th birthday following his brace against Austria earlier on Monday.

Well, records are there to be broken, Deschamps said in the post-match press conference. And now he has a symbolic figure. He has 100 caps. He’s always scored goals. He will score more goals.

“Take Messi, take (Cristiano) Ronaldo. I’m not sure that Kylian will play up to their age, but as long as he’s on the pitch and as he feels right, he will score a lot of goals,” Deschamps said. “Every time he beats his own record, he does have the capacity to up his ante.”

Mbappe’s latest double was perhaps his most unusual, the goals coming nearly three hours apart in the first match of this World Cup beset by a lengthy weather delay.

What did France do during the delay?

“We played cards,” Deschamps quipped. No, well, we were waiting. We had slots that kept being pushed forward again. And what is most important with my … colleague (Iraq manager) Graham (Arnold) is to have the 20 minutes to do another warm-up, to not take any risks.

“There was a lot of rain that made the pitch very heavy. It was the first time that it happened to me. Same for my players.”

Deschamps admitted the ordeal was frustrating, but also felt there was little anyone could have done differently.As for the other goalscorer, Ousmane Dembele, Deschamps hoped the reigning Ballon d’Or winner was just getting started after his first of the tournament.

“Be easy on Ousmane,” he said. “There’s no issue with Ousmane. He also needs to re-adapt to a system in which he doesn’t play throughout the year.”

“As long as Ousmane is well physically, and this is the case, then it’s just fine-tuning. I trust in Ousmane. He knows that. And he’s not somebody who doubts and doing what he did today, it’s important because he’s a decisive player.”

STILL HAVE CHANCE TO GO THROUGH

Iraq may have been on the wrong end of another superstar striker masterclass, but manager Graham Arnold insists his team’s tournament dreams remain intact.

The Australian coach is keeping his eyes firmly fixed on Friday’s crucial final group match against Senegal, where Iraq’s hopes of reaching the knockout phase hang in the balance.

“For me now, it’s all about Senegal,” Arnold said. “With … eight third-placed teams going through. You know, we’ve still got a chance.”

Arnold praised his team’s first-half performance despite Mbappe’s opener from distance, but lamented how the lengthy weather delay seemed to disrupt their rhythm. A costly goal-kick error immediately after the restart gifted France their second goal.

“Well, you know, there’s nothing I could do except I showed probably a little bit longer footage of the first half at halftime to show them where France was obviously hurting us a little bit,” Arnold explained.

“But it was more the players just had to sit and relax and keep relaxed and then get themselves obviously ready when we went back out there.”

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

NOTTINGHAM: England coach Brendon McCullum has denied his relationship with Ben Stokes was damaged by the nightclub controversy that forced the captain into exile for the second Test defeat against New Zealand.

Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were dropped after breaking a midnight curfew in an incident at a London nightclub following England’s first Test win at Lord’s.

McCullum said he was concerned and worried about Stokes in the aftermath of the all-rounder’s late-night antics, which sparked suggestions he might be stripped of the captaincy or retire from international duty.

The pair were largely cleared in two subsequent investigations, receiving only a written warning from the England and Wales Cricket Board for breaking “specific contractual obligations”.

Two unprovoked attacks on Atkinson in the nightclub occurred when Stokes was elsewhere, while the Cricket Regulator ruled there was insufficient evidence against them to justify further punishment.

McCullum had declined the opportunity to publicly back Stokes while the probe took place, leading to renewed speculation over the pair’s bond after a dismal Ashes defeat in Australia that was marred by drinking controversy surrounding England’s players.

England slumped to a heavy second Test defeat in the absence of their skipper and one of their key fast bowlers.

But Stokes and Atkinson are back in the squad for the third Test, which starts in Nottingham on Thursday, and trained with their team-mates at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.

And McCullum claimed he is still on good terms with Stokes after a lengthy chat prior to England’s net session.

“I’ve had a good catch-up with him this morning, an hour and a bit talking, and he was outstanding,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

“He looks ready to go, he’s enthusiastic about the week and, obviously from our point of view, it’s nice to have the band back together.” Asked if recent events had made their relationship more tense, McCullum said: “Not at all. We talked about that this morning. I said ‘do you know where this has come from, the conversations around our relationship over the last six months?’

“He said ‘no, I have no idea’. I said to him ‘as far I’m concerned, I consider you a good friend’.

“Obviously we’ve been through a lot together as a working pair in leadership positions here in English cricket.

“In the end, we both want what’s right and what is the best for English cricket and we’re crystal clear on the direction we want this team to take.”

Stokes and Atkinson are back in the England line-up for the third Test as the selectors made four changes.

Jamie Smith is back following the birth of his second child and replaces James Rew as wicket-keeper.

Spinner Shoaib Bashir, who did not bowl a single over in his previous appearance at Lord’s, is picked with extreme heat expected this week expected to favour slow bowlers.

Atkinson, Josh Tongue and Jofra Archer are the fast bowlers, leaving Ollie Robinson on the sidelines.

The 32-year-old took career-best figures of 7-77 on a bowler-friendly pitch at Lord’s in his first Test in more than two years.

But he withdrew from the second Test due to a knee injury and has been unable to reclaim his place.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

The camp is being held to prepare the players for upcoming international assignments, including the tour of England and the ACC U-19 Asia Cup.

Besides undergoing training to improve their skills and fitness, the players at the camp will also feature in practice matches at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

The camp will conclude in August after which the Pakistan U-19 squad for the England tour will be announced. The England tour runs from Sept 2 to 16.

Out of the 31 players selected for the camp, 10 represented Pakistan in the U-19 World Cup in Zimbabwe earlier this year.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

Suryansh Shedge has been named as his replacement, with Reddy’s absence leaving India short of a frontline pace-bowling all-rounder for the series.

Reddy reported discomfort on his left quadriceps following the third One-day International against Afghanistan on Saturday and has been advised to undergo a period of rehabilitation, the BCCI added.

Shedge, 23, comes in as a batting all-rounder and got the call-up after scoring 147 runs in five matches for India A in the recently concluded tri-series in Sri Lanka.

India face Ireland in two T20Is in Belfast on June 26 and June 28 before travelling to England for a five-match series in July.

Meanwhile, fifteen-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi donned his first official India jersey and said he had long dreamed of the moment.

Sooryavanshi was named in India’s T20 squad for the tours to Ireland and England, as well as the Asian Games, after sweeping the batting honours in this year’s Indian Premier League.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released a video of the moment on Tuesday when the blue jersey was delivered to him, calling it “the moment the nation has been waiting for”.

“Ever since I first held a bat and walked onto a cricket field to practise, I dreamed of this moment… I cannot explain this feeling in words,” Sooryavanshi said in the BCCI video.

Sooryavanshi is in line to become India’s youngest international player, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar, the batting great who made his Test debut aged 16 years and 205 days in 1989.

The spotlight has been on Sooryavanshi since his batting exploits in the IPL, where he amassed 776 runs for Rajasthan Royals to finish as the tournament’s leading run scorer. He struck one century and five half-centuries during the season to pick up the Orange Cap for the leading run-getter.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

The Iranian team were previously only allowed to enter the US a day before a match, a move that led the coach to say Iran were “the most oppressed team in the whole World Cup”.

“For the Iranian teams third match in Seattle on June 26, the team has been permitted to come into the US two days before the match,” a DHS spokesperson said.

“The Iran team will still be required to leave the day the match ends. The overall security measures and protocol are the same. We remain committed to providing the safest tournament possible for players, staff, and fans alike.”

FIFA and the Iranian team did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Iran expressed intent last week to lodge a complaint with soccer’s world governing body FIFA over the travel restrictions the team have been facing, commuting from their tournament base in Tijuana, Mexico, the day ahead of their games in the US.

The restrictions come amid high tensions between Washington and Tehran following a nearly four-month war. In March, US President Donald Trump said while Iran were welcome to participate in the tournament, he believed it was not appropriate that they remain there between matches “for their own life and safety.”

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

Coming into the contest with both teams facing a virtual knockout, New Zealand made the right call at the toss by opting to field. However, the defending champions were made to work hard by a spirited Scotland outfit that refused to go quietly.

Darcey Carter anchored Scotland’s innings with an outstanding unbeaten 72 off 52 deliveries, carrying her bat through as wickets tumbled around her. Scotland looked set for a significantly bigger total after reaching 96 for 2 in the 15th over, with Carter finding valuable support from Katherine Fraser and Sarah Bryce.

But New Zealand’s bowlers staged an impressive turnaround in the closing stages. Sophie Devine broke the momentum with two quick wickets before Amelia Kerr’s brilliant spell at the death, which yielded figures of 3 for 17, restricted Scotland to 131 for 7. The collapse of five wickets for just 35 runs meant Carter’s lone effort was left without the finishing flourish it deserved.

SL ON TRACK FOR LAST FOUR

In another Group 2 game, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu hit the eighth century in tournament history in a win over Ireland at the same venue just two days after saying she felt like “a failure as a captain” following a defeat to the West Indies.

Ireland bore the brunt of Athapaththu’s rebound, a magnificent 106 not out in Sri Lanka’s winning 134-1.

She sent the first delivery past mid-off to the fence and preyed on poor bowling. She scored 50 off 32 balls and needed only 26 more to complete her first World Cup hundred and fourth in T20s, which included 76 off boundaries.

Of course, Athapaththu hit the winning runs from her 17th boundary, and celebrated a massive Sri Lanka win by nine wickets with 4.3 overs remaining.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

Canada will be without the services of Kone when they line up against three-time quarter-finalists Switzerland as the linchpin midfielder suffered a broken leg following a tackle by Qatar’s Assim Madibo during the co-host’s 6-0 thrashing of Qatar last week that gave them their first World Cup win.

It was a devastating blow given Kone is considered the heartbeat of Canada’s midfield, and without his energy Jesse Marsch’s men could be a less threatening pressing side going into their group-stage finale at Vancouver’s BC Place.

Replacing the midfielder will be no easy feat for Marsch, who acknowledged the absence of Kone “weakens us in the tournament”, but he will have no choice but to rely on someone from his bench to step up in the high-stakes clash against Switzerland.

Nathan Saliba replaced Kone in the game against Qatar and moments after entering the game made it 4-0, celebrating by holding Kone’s No. 8 jersey aloft.

Canada and Switzerland have four points from two games, though the World Cup co-hosts are top of the Group ‘B’ standings due to a superior goal difference.

Switzerland opened with a draw against Qatar followed by a 4-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina and now need one point against Canada to secure a round-of-32 place in the expanded tournament.

The Swiss have negotiated their way out of the group stage in five of their last six World Cup campaigns but have tasted defeat in the round of 16 on each of those occasions.

BOSNIA, QATAR FIGHT FOR THIRD SPOT

Meanwhile, Bosnia and Qatar go into their final Group ‘B ‘game on Wednesday knowing they realistically must win to progress, with a possible last-32 clash against co-hosts the US the prize on offer.

The hefty margins of defeat in both the teams’ previous fixtures severely damaged their goal difference, which could hamper their chances of progress if they are level on points with rival third-placed teams.

With two points surely not enough to qualify, a draw is no use to either side and could make for an open game. Neither nation have made it out of the group before, though, and are more comfortable setting up to defend and counter.

Bosnia are without highly-rated 23-year-old defender Tarik Muharemovic after his straight red against Switzerland.

Qatar, meanwhile, will miss both Ahmed and Assim Madibo after they were sent off against Canada, with Madibo’s rash challenge leaving Ismael Kone with a broken leg.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

LONDON: India kept Pakistan winless with a narrow 4-3 win in an action-packed FIH Pro Hockey League match between the arch-rivals here at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre on Tuesday.

The defeat marked Pakistan’s 13th consecutive loss in the nine-team tournament and extended India’s unbeaten run against the Green-shirts since 2016 when Pakistan last upstaged India in a competitive hockey match.

After taking an early lead, Pakistan were pushed back in the remaining three quarters as India gradually took control of the game.

Nadeem Ahmed gave Pakistan a lead on a penalty corner in the seventh minute as the Green-shirts remained ahead despite India enjoying better ball possession.

However, the break shifted momentum towards India as Pakistan’s defensive strategy backfired. Taking advantage of their superior circle penetrations compared to Pakistan, Abhishek equalised for India in the 21st minute after several saves by Pakistan goalkeeper Ali Raza.

Two minutes later, India’s Nilakanta Sharma put his side ahead 2-1. Pakistan created several chances towards the end of the second quarter, with Rana Waheed Ashraf impressing in midfield, but they could not equalise. At the end of the second quarter, the score line remained the same.

India continued to dominate in the second half of the match, extending their lead through goals from Sukhjeet Singh (39th minute) and Rajinder Singh (51st).

Pakistan could not score despite getting a penalty corner in the last minutes of the third quarter.

In the last quarter Pakistan continued to fight until the final whistle, with skipper Abu Bakr Mahmood (53rd minute) and Moin Shakeel (last minute) scoring goals to reduce the deficit to 4-3.

Former four-time world champions, Pakistan, who are currently participating in the third and last leg of the 2025-26 Pro League season, have lost all their matches on their tours to Argentina, Australia and Belgium for featuring in the league.

Pakistan’s winless run in the Pro League with less than two months to go before they compete in the Aug 15-30 World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium is no good omen for the team.

FIH APOLOGISES

Meanwhile, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) apologised for the incorrect display of Pakistan’s flag ahead of their Pro League match against India in London on Tuesday.

A flag which was displayed as Pakistan’s on the field before the start of the match had green colour only, while the white colour was missing.

“Following the incorrect display of Pakistan’s flag during the FIH Hockey Pro League match today in London, England, FIH would like to apologise unreservedly for this error,” the FIH said in a media release soon after Tuesday’s match.

“Hockey’s world governing body understands that a team’s flag is an important symbol of identity, pride, and representation and deeply regrets any offense this may have caused to the Pakistani team, supporters, people, and National Federation.

It added, “The FIH takes full responsibility for this operational mistake and will be reviewing its processes to ensure that similar errors do not occur in the future.

“The FIH [in this regard] has sent an official apology to the Pakistan Hockey Federation as well.”

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

Topline Securities Ltd said the PSX witnessed a weak and volatile session, with rollover-related pressure and fiscal year-end considerations weighing on investor sentiment. The benchmark index oscillated between an intraday high of 933 points at 179,405.56 and a low of 797 points at 177,674.37, before closing at 177,692.92, down 778 points or 0.44 per cent.

Overall participation remained cautious, with investors largely on the sidelines amid portfolio repositioning and profit-taking ahead of the fiscal year-end, leading to a lacklustre close across the broader market.

On the index contribution front, the index heavyweights United Bank Ltd, Bank Al-Habib Ltd, Engro Holdings, Fauji Fertiliser Company, and Bank Alfalah Ltd were the major laggards, collectively dragging the benchmark down by 595 points. On the flipside, Oil and Gas Development Company, Maple Leaf Cement Fact­ory, Pakistan Petroleum Ltd, Sui Northern Gas Pip­eline, and Colgate Palmo­live provided some support, collectively adding 217 points to the benchmark.

Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Ltd, stated that the PSX experienced another uneventful session. He explained that investor sentiment is expected to remain influenced by headlines, with short-term market movements driven by oil prices, geopolitical events, and blue-chip stock investments.

Market activity stayed subdued, with trading volume decreasing by 5.24pc to 765.15 million shares and total turnover declining by 2.02pc to Rs35.2 billion, reflecting cautious investor sentiment. K-Electric topped the volume chart with 83.4 million shares traded.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

The company offered 66.67 million ordinary sha­­­res, and the offering was oversubscribed by 3.2 times. This strong demand reflects investor confide­n­­ce in both Pakistan’s exp­anding smart devices and consumer electronics ma­­nufacturing sector and the company’s growth potential, says a press release.

Select Technologies Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Link Communication Ltd, manufactures and assembles smartphones, smart TVs, air conditioners, and other consumer appliances in Pakistan. The company plans to expand into higher-margin consumer technology and home appliance segments.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

The government has been borrowing rapidly as the fiscal year approaches its end on June 30. The State Bank reported that the government raised a total of Rs1.060tr through direct auction, while it also raised Rs182bn through non-competitive bids, bringing the total to Rs1.242tr.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

“As part of its continuing efforts to bring greater transparency and predictability into monetary policy formulation and improve its monetary policy-related communication, the SBP has released the advance calendar for MPC meetings for FY27,” the central bank said.

The SBP has also decided to increase the frequency of post-MPC press conferences from two to four times a year. Press conferences by the SBP governor will be held following MPC meetings in July, October, January and April.

At the same time, the SBP decided to publish the staff presentation prepared for the post-MPC analyst briefing. The presentation will be uploaded on the SBP’s official website one day after the MPC meeting. The move is aimed at bringing greater transparency to the MPC’s reaction function and to increase stakeholders’ confidence in the thorough, data-driven monetary policy formulation process at the SBP.

The SBP has also decided to streamline the publication of MPC meeting minutes. The minutes will now be published by the end of the fourth week after the corresponding MPC meeting on the SBP’s website.

The measures announced on Monday are reflected in a detailed advance calendar for MPC meetings, which can be accessed at https://www.sbp.org.pk/m_policy/mp-calendar.asp

“The continuous improvements in the SBP’s monetary policy-related communications are guided by the SBP’s Strategic Plan — Vision 2028 — which aims to enhance the effectiveness of monetary policy transmission by anchoring inflation expectations and facilitate the formal adoption of an inflation-targeting regime,” the SBP statement said.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

Facilitated by the Special Investment Facilitation Coun­cil, the strategic mega project is designed to establish a vital south-to-north fuel transport corridor to secure the national energy supply chain.

The pipeline had long been a priority on the investment council’s agenda, with the foundational memorandum of understanding signed directly under its platform to draw international collaboration and foreign investment.

By actively engaging key stakeholders, the council successfully resolved long-standing regulatory hurdles and fast-tracked the critical approvals needed to move the long-awaited project into execution.

Upon completion, the pipeline is expected to transform Pakistan’s fuel logistics by shifting oil transport from congested highways to a secure underground network. This transition will significantly lower fuel losses, reduce distribution costs, and minimise the environmental and safety hazards associated with heavy oil tankers on public roads.

Beyond enhancing national energy security, the multi-million-dollar infrastructure project is set to modernise the country’s industrial backbone and generate extensive employment opportunities.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

Michael R. Bloomberg, the UN chief’s special en­­voy on climate, announced the investment to stren­gthen national clean ener­­gy industries by building their institutional stren­g­­th, technical capacity, mar­­ket expertise, and an­­aly­ti­cal capabilities, acco­rding to a statement issued by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

“Clean energy is now cheaper than fossil fuels in virtually every part of the world, and as a result, its share of global power production is growing,” said Mr Bloomberg, foun­der of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philan­­thro­pies. “But fixable obstacles are still slowing down deployment — and with energy demand rising at an un­­p­recedented speed, we can’t allow those obstacles to continue standing in the way of lower energy costs for households and businesses, and cleaner air and water for communities. This new investment will help ensure they don’t.”

By 2030, renewables and nuclear are projected to generate half of the world’s electricity.

State climate minister says renewable energy being held back by ‘market structures designed for a different era’

The statement noted that the investment aimed to create conducive conditions for the energy transition “to help close that gap by building on existing efforts in emerging markets and developing economies where demand is growing fastest”.

The statement also quo­ted Minister of State for Climate Change Dr She­zra Mansab Ali Khan Kha­­ral, who welcomed the initiative. “Across em­­erging economies, renewable en­­ergy is being held back not by economics but by market structures desig­ned for a different era. With this inv­estment, Bloom­b­erg Philanthropies is helping to close the gap bet­w­een clean energy potenti­al and what reality requires by tackling these systemic challenges head-on.”

The commitment, focused on countries responsible for nearly 70pc of global power sector emissions, aims to help solar and wind generate more than half of their electricity by 2030. It aims to strengthen clean energy industry associations and regional networks to better participate in energy planning, financing, and market design. It will also support technical research to demonstrate how clean energy can deliver reliable, affordable power at scale.

Energy expert Dr Khalid Waleed said the reference to “countries responsible for nearly 70pc of global power-sector emissions” appeared to be a collective portfolio-level framing, not a confirmation of country-specific allocations. Pakistan is not central to the 70pc global power-sector emissions arithmetic, but it is central to the developing-country transition challenge, said Dr Waleed, a research fellow at the Islamabad-based Sustainable Development Policy Institute.

“The country represents exactly the kind of system where clean energy can reduce costs and improve energy security, provided reforms move beyond generation capacity and address the deeper institutional and market constraints.” Pakistan’s power sector is already showing strong clean-energy mo­m­entum, particularly thr­ough distributed solar, but the institutional framework has not kept pace with the transition, he said, adding that this was precisely the area where countries like Pakistan needed support in early retirement of fossil fuel plants as bankable projects and the upcoming battery and storage revolution.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

Rates for hiring a tanker outside the Strait of Hormuz have jumped to $190,500 a day from $106,500 a week ago, according to ship brokers and industry sources, with those hired outside the Gulf region also surging.

Average daily earnings for very large crude carriers (VLCCs) have jumped to a record of nearly $470,000 a day for cargoes inside the Gulf that need to go through Hormuz, rising by over $50,000 from a week ago, according to estimates from the ship brokers and industry sources.

“Tanker owners are preparing for an influx of Middle East crude cargoes in the coming weeks and are emboldened by the fact that spot TCEs (earnings) averaged above $100,000/day despite the loss of … cargo volume since the US-Iran hostilities commenced,” ship broker Clarksons said.

“This indicates the (tanker) supply side remains exceptionally tight and a re-opening of Hormuz would tighten capacity further,” it said in a note.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

The Collectorate of Customs (Exports), Karachi, has held a meeting with the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) to address what they described as a recurring compliance failure among exporters in availing the subsidy on rice exports.

Well-placed sources told Dawn on Tuesday that the customs authorities have raised the alarm over the growing misuse of export facilitation mechanisms after detecting widespread misdeclaration of weight in rice export consignments.

As per the details, multiple consignments were found carrying discrepancies between declared and actual weights. The issue was serious enough for customs officials to convene a formal meeting with members of the REAP to address the issue.

Identifies 150 exporters misdeclaring weights

The Ministry of Commerce has allocated approximately Rs15 billion for a rebate scheme on local taxes and levies for rice exporters. Exporters of basmati and brown rice are eligible for a 9 per cent rebate on the FOB value, provided the export price is at or above $750 per tonne.

Other coarse rice qualifies for a lower rebate of 3pc of FOB value, but only where the export price remains below $750 per tonne.

According to officials familiar with the discussions, misdeclaration of weight allows exporters to exaggerate shipment volumes in documentation, which can then be used to claim higher financial benefits under export incentive schemes tied to quantity or value. This creates a dual distortion by inflating subsidy payouts while also undermining fair competition within the sector.

The REAP acknowledged that customs authorities had expressed serious concern over these irregularities and warned its members against engaging in such practices. The association advised exporters to ensure strict compliance with dec­lared weights and customs regulations, while distancing itself from any firm found involved in fraudulent reporting.

According to exporters, the manipulation typically occurs at the documentation stage, where shipment weights are overstated relative to the actual cargo loaded. Weak verification mechanisms at certain points in the export chain can allow such discrepancies to go undetected unless they are flagged by audits or inspections. Customs officials have signalled that enforcement may be tightened, with possible penalties, recovery of undue benefits, and legal action against violators, according to the official sources.

The association has also cautioned that it will not support members found guilty of misdeclaration, placing responsibility squarely on exporters to maintain transparency in export transactions. The development highlights broader concerns about governance gaps in export subsidy regimes, where documentation based claims remain vulnerable to manipulation without robust cross verification of physical shipments.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The Petroleum Division of the Ministry of Energy on Tuesday assured angered executives of oil-marketing companies (OMCs) and refineries that upcoming price adjustments would be based on actual import premiums, while the weekly pricing mechanism would continue to minimise losses caused by recent policy changes.

At a hurriedly called meeting, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik and Secretary Hamed Yaqoob Shaikh told CEOs of several OMCs and refineries that there would be no further changes to the weekly pricing mechanism in the near future.

They added that upcoming petrol pricing would be based on a $15.85 per barrel import premium of the latest cargo arranged by state-run Pakistan State Oil (PSO), which suffered the most under recent pricing changes.

Diesel pricing would continue to be benchmarked on PSO’s import premium from Kuwait Petroleum — around $5-6 per barrel, an official told Dawn.

Asif Iqbal, chairman of the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC), an umbrella body of over three dozen companies, complained to the government side that frequent changes to the pricing formula — seven times for diesel and four times for petrol in the past three months — had shattered the oil industry. He said the latest price change had wiped out the profitability of the past year in a single day, warning that foreign investment could not be expected under such conditions, according to official sources.

Cnergyico Petroleum’s Amir Abbassciy said refineries were bearing the brunt due to abundant availability of smuggled high-speed diesel (HSD) in the market and demanded complete deregulation of pricing along with effective action against smuggling. He supported OCAC’s view that further foreign investment in the sector would be difficult.

Wafi Energy CEO Zubair Shaikh said his UAE-based principals were shocked to learn that their subsidiary had suffered losses in a single price change greater than profits earned over more than a year. He warned that Wafi’s major foreign investors may consider exiting and said he would not be able to help retain them.

Another executive complained that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) had been withholding over Rs66 billion in price differential claims (PDCs) arising from government decisions rather than operational issues, creating working capital challenges at a time when banks were also imposing higher foreign exchange charges than SBP rates.

The majority of industry representatives demanded that the pre-war pricing mechanism be restored, warning that the formula used in the June 19 pricing could erase profitability and even impact working capital.

Refinery representatives also protested the government’s decision to seek surrender of 2.5pc deemed duty, originally allocated for upgrade, despite contracts for upgrade not having been signed.

The petroleum minister told CEOs that the seven-day pricing mechanism would not be changed now. He said the prime minister had constituted a committee on petroleum pricing and that industry input would be considered during the consultative process. He added that complete pricing deregulation could not be implemented abruptly and would require a gradual shift, possibly from weekly to daily pricing.

Informed sources said both the minister and secretary complained that industry representatives had at times diluted their economic arguments before the National Coordination and Management Council (NCMC), weakening the Petroleum Division’s position. One executive who left the meeting to take a call from the NCMC was also reportedly reprimanded for undermining formal discussions on policy matters.

Industry representatives were also rebuked for not responding to one-sided criticism on social media. When some executives complained about Ogra leadership’s unavailability, the minister reportedly advised them to approach the prime minister if they were dissatisfied with Ogra.

The OCAC chairman, however, said he had been given a patient hearing by Ogra on short notice, alth­ough his input was not reflected in decision-making.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

They emphasised enhanced cooperation to improve environmental protection and maritime safety.

The meeting was held at the minister’s chamber in the National Assembly, where the two leaders stressed the need for closer coordination between federal and provincial institutions on environmental management and maritime sustainability.

They discussed greater collaboration to address marine pollution and strengthen the protection of coastal ecosystems. The minister said he would convene a meeting of the Marine Pollution Control Board during his upcoming visit to Karachi to review ongoing efforts and receive briefings on institutional responses to marine litter and coastal degradation.

Governor Hashmi underscored the importance of stronger coordination between federal and provincial authorities, highlighting waste management, marine resource conservation, and sustainable economic activity as essential to the environmental and economic well-being of Sindh’s coastal communities.

Junaid Chaudhry said healthy oceans play a critical role in regulating the climate, supporting biodiversity, and sustaining coastal livelihoods, including mangrove ecosystems and fisheries. He noted that the Karachi Port Trust conducts routine clean-up operations in port waters and adjoining areas as part of its ongoing maintenance and environmental management efforts.

Referring to assessments by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Chaudhry said an estimated 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste enter aquatic ecosystems worldwide each year, highlighting the scale of marine pollution challenges faced by coastal states.

He added that global studies, including those supported by the World Bank, indicate that plastic accounts for a significant share of marine litter, often exceeding 50pc by item count, although proportions vary widely depending on location and methodology.

Chaudhry said marine litter poses a serious threat to ecosystems, fisheries, and coastal communities, and called for coordinated action by federal and provincial authorities to improve waste management systems and reduce pollution at its source.

He also highlighted the broader economic potential of transitioning to a circular economy, noting that improved recycling systems and resource recovery could create employment opportunities while reducing environmental pressures, according to international studies.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday issued a final notice to the Islamabad DIG (operations) under Section 37 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997, observing that prima facie sufficient material was available to proceed against the police officer for failing to comply with court orders regarding submission of the challan in a protest case against PTI leaders and workers.

Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra expressed displeasure over the continued non-submission of the challan despite repeated directives and earlier notices issued by the court.

During the hearing, Prosecutor Raja Naveed informed the court that the prosecution had still not received the challan.

Questioning the investigating authorities over the delay, the judge observed that the court had repeatedly sought the report but the police department had failed to comply with its directives. He noted that trial proceedings could not commence because the case record remained incomplete and there was uncertainty regarding the accused persons named in the interim challan.

At one stage of the proceedings, the court verbally announced a punishment of one month’s imprisonment and a fine of Rs100,000 for the DIG for non-compliance with court orders, directing the stenographer to prepare the order in the courtroom.

However, the written order issued later stopped short of imposing punishment and instead issued a final show-cause notice to the DIG. The order noted that Section 37 of the ATA empowers an anti-terrorism court to punish any person who disobeys its orders with rigorous imprisonment of up to six months and a fine.

The order stated that a previous notice had already been issued to the DIG, but he neither appeared before the court nor submitted any written explanation for the delay. The court regretted that repeated directions had been issued to the investigating officer to submit the complete challan, but no meaningful progress had been made.

During the hearing, Special Public Prosecutor and newly appointed investigating officer Inspector Zafar Iqbal sought a short adjournment to submit a detailed report as well as the challan. Inspector Iqbal informed the court that he had recently been appointed investigating officer and that the investigation team had been reconstituted. The prosecution assured the court that its directives would now be complied with in letter and spirit.

The court was also informed that accused Sohail Afridi, Junaid Akbar and Abdul Ghani had been placed in Column No. 2 of the interim challan as their arrest was still required.

The court directed the DIG to submit his written reply before the next hearing and adjourned proceedings until July 6.

PTI registration

Meanwhile, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) High Court on Wednesday directed the Election Commission to “provisionally register” PTI as a political party.

The short order was verbally announced in the open court by senior puisne judge Syed Shahid Bahar. Other members of the bench were Justice Sardar Muhammad Ejaz and Justice Khalid Rasheed Chaudhry. A detailed judgement was likely to be issued on Wednesday.

On May 16, the Election Commission had rejected PTI’s application for registration, citing alleged non-fulfilment of Rule 121 of Election Rules concerning financial affairs and details of accounts provided by the applicant party. Terming the move unconstitutional and undemocratic, PTI leaders had announced challenging it at the appropriate forums.

According to PTI sources, the commission’s decision was assailed in the high court on June 19 through a writ petition, filed on behalf of the party’s regional president Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi and secretary general Mir Attiqur Rehman.

Tariq Naqash in Muzaffarabad also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Psy­chiatric Society (PPS) on Tuesday approached the Shariat Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court, challenging the Federal Shariat Court’s (FSC) May 18 judgement declaring the government’s decriminalisation of suicide attempts repugnant to the injunctions of Islam.

The FSC had also struck down the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2022, to the extent that it omitted Se­­ction 325 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), and declared the rem­oval of the offence from the PPC repugnant to the injunctions of Islam.

Filed under Article 203-F(2B) of the Constitution, the appeal, submitted by Advocate Barrister Muham­mad Mumtaz Ali on behalf of the PPS, requested the SC Shariat App­el­­late Bench to set aside the FSC judgement.

The appeal argued that the FSC erred in holding that the omission of Section 325 of the PPC was repugnant to the injunctions of Islam despite the absence of any express provision in the Holy Quran, Sunnah, or authoritative Islamic jurisprudence mandating the criminalisation of suicide attempts or the imposition of temporal punishment.

The FSC failed to appreciate that decriminalisation of suicide attempts does not amount to legalisation of suicide, which remains prohibited and a major sin under Islamic law, the petition contended.

According to the appeal, the Qu­­ra­nic and Prophetic injunctions relied upon by the FSC establish the prohibition and culpability of suicide bef­ore Allah, but do not prescribe any specific worldly punishment for a suicide attempt, thereby recognising a distinction between religious culpability and the imposition of criminal sanctions by the legislature.

The petition argued that criminalising suicide attempts neither adva­n­ces the recognised objectives of punishment nor contributes to the preservation of life. Instead, the threat of prosecution discourages vulnerable individuals from reporting suicide attempts and seeking medical assistance or mental health treatment.

The FSC, it said, also overlooked established medical and scientific understanding that suicidal behaviour is often associated with mental illness, psychological distress, dom­estic violence, trauma, or severe soc­io-economic pressures, warranting treatment, counselling and rehabilitation rather than penal sanctions.

Moreover, the FSC failed to adequately consider that existing legal provisions, including Section 84 of the PPC and other statutory safeguards, already provide a comprehensive framework for addressing issues arising from mental incapacity and diminished responsibility.

The appeal argued that the FSC identified no binding juristic consensus (Ijma) requiring the criminalisation of suicide attempts and failed to account for contemporary legislative developments in various jurisdictio­­ns, including Muslim-majority states that have adopted a public health-orie­nted approach to suicidal behaviour.

It maintained that restoring criminal liability for suicide attempts is inconsistent with the objectives of rehabilitation, human dignity, compassion and public welfare, all recognised principles of Islamic jurisprudence that underpin modern suicide-prevention strategies.

The judgement, the petition said, undermined internationally recogni­sed, evidence-based therapeutic and rehabilitative appro­aches to mental healthcare and creates a substantial risk of discouraging individuals suffering from psychological distress, mental illness or suicidal ideation from seeking timely professional assistance due to fear of prosecution.

The appeal also argued that the FSC erred in concluding that decriminalisation necessitated the restoration of penal liability for survivors of suicide attempts. Concerns relating to abetment or cyber-incitement of suicide, it said, can be addressed through independent offences and existing legal frameworks, including the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016.

The petition emphasised that the FSC failed to maintain the settled distinction between the religious prohibition of an act and its criminalisation by the state. While suicide is prohibited in Islam, neither the primary sources of Islamic law nor any established juristic consensus prescribes a worldly punishment for a failed suicide attempt.

The appeal contended that Article 227 of the Constitution requires laws to conform to the injunctions of Islam but does not oblige the legislature to criminalise every sinful act for which no specific worldly punishment has been prescribed in the Holy Quran or Sunnah.

It argued that the FSC exceeded its jurisdiction under Article 203D by adjudicating a matter of public policy concerning the repeal of a Ta’zir punishment despite the absence of any express Quranic or Prophetic injunction requiring its retention. Therefore, no question of repugnancy under Article 203D arose.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

The tenure of LGs in KP ended on March 15, while the term of the last local government in Islamabad expired in February 2021.

Preparations for LG polls in the federal capital, KP and Punjab were reviewed at a meeting held at the ECP Secretariat on Tuesday.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja presided over the meeting with ECP members, secretary and senior officials.

Schedule for LG polls in Punjab likely to be released in mid-August

The ECP expressed concern over the KP government’s failure to provide the requisite maps and other data for 15 districts despite repeated requests.

Invoking Article 220 of the Constitution, which binds executive authorities to assist the ECP, the commission ordered notices to be issued to the KP chief secretary and local government secretary for personal appearance to explain the delay.

They were also directed to provide all required maps and data before July 1, when the case has been fixed for hearing.

Regarding the federal capital, the commission was briefed that the case regarding delimitation of town corporations and notification of the number of union councils in each town corporation in Islamabad had been sent to the federal cabinet for approval.

However, neither the notifications nor the maps have been provided to the ECP till date.

Taking note, the commission fixed Islamabad’s case for hearing on July 1 as well, and ordered notices to the Islamabad chief commissioner and deputy commissioner.

For Punjab, the ECP directed its office to complete all necessary preparations for announcing the election schedule as soon as the delimitation exercise is completed. As the delimitation schedule for LG polls in Punjab was issued in April, the exercise is supposed to be completed by August 10. This would enable the commission to immediately announce the LG poll schedule for the province.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has ruled that civil courts cannot directly entertain suits regarding the determination of Pakistani citizenship where the matter falls within the jurisdiction of authorities established under the Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951, and the Nadra laws.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani issued the verdict while allowing a civil revision petition filed by the National Database and Registration Authority challenging judgements of two lower courts passed in favour of Khalid Khan and another respondent.

Nadra had blocked the Computerised National Identity Cards of the respondents after declaring them to be in the “alien” category.

Later, the matter of the respondents was referred to a Joint Verification Committee, comprising the Special Branch, Intelligence Bureau and ISI, for further verification of their national status and that of their family members. Their status could not be verified as Pakistani nationals, though the respondents succeeded in obtaining Pakistani CNICs despite their alleged ineligibility and later filed the suit.

Counsel for the respondents contended that both lower courts in Sialkot had concurrently declared his clients Pakistani citizens and that it was their inalienable right to receive CNICs from Nadra. He said there was no evidence to demonstrate that the respondents belonged to the alien category.

Justice Kayani observed that during and after the Afghan war, many refugees came to Pakistan and managed to obtain NICs or CNICs and changed their identities despite being refugees or Afghan citizens.

Citing details from the inquiry report, the judge noted that officials had interviewed the father of the respondents, who claimed that he was born in Mohmand Agency in 1964 and later settled in Gujranwala.

Surprisingly, the respondents’ father was not aware of when and where his father had died. Similarly, the judge noted, he was also unaware of details regarding his brothers and sisters.

Justice Kayani observed that all these facts created suspicion, adding that the inquiry report required technical evidence from the respondents’ side to dispel the allegation that they belonged to the alien category.

He said the respondents were under an obligation to discharge their onus on the basis of any public record prior to 1979, including a birth certificate, CNIC/NIC, passport, government job document or matriculation certificate, to demonstrate that their father was born in Pakistan before 1979 and that he and his family members were registered in Pakistan as Pakistani citizens.

“If there is no such document, then they are to be treated as being in the alien category. Surp­risingly, both the courts below have not considered this aspect,” Justice Kayani maintained.

He said it was not a simple case in which the Joint Verification Committee’s report could be disregarded, especially when the inquiry had been conducted by officials of the ISI, Nadra and police authorities and no justiciable answer was given by the father of the respondents.

The judge said the respondents and their family members could not be verified as Pakistani nationals and had succeeded in obtaining Pakistani CNICs despite being ineligible. He regretted that both the trial court and the appellate court had not considered the relevant facts and documents produced by Nadra.

Justice Kayani observed that citizenship disputes involving issues such as dual nationality, citizenship by birth, descent, naturalisation or deprivation of citizenship were not merely matters of correction of Nadra records but involved the determination of legal status under the citizenship law.

However, the judge clarified that the exclusion of civil jurisdiction did not mean that actions of statutory authorities were beyond judicial scrutiny.

He observed that the high court’s constitutional jurisdiction under Article 199 remained available if an authority acted without lawful authority, violated mandatory legal provisions, denied due process, acted mala fide or infringed fundamental rights.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

Imran Khan’s sisters and PTI leaders reached Adiala jail in the morning, but were not allowed to meet the incarcerated former prime minister.

Speaking to reporters outside the jail, Aleema Khan recalled how initially, Mr Khan’s meetings with party leaders were banned, after which family members were also stopped from meeting him.

PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said a large number of people reached Adiala jail every week, despite pressure and hurdles, and maintained that it was the right of Mr Khan’s family to meet him in prison.

Party accuses Adiala officials of misleading court on power of attorney for ex-PM, his wife

Advocate Awais Younas Chaudhry, who submits lists of persons intending to meet Imran Khan, told Dawn that all the leaders whose names had been provided to the Adiala Jail administration, along with Imran Khan’s sisters, reached the jail on Tuesday, but were not allowed to meet the PTI founder.

PTI North Punjab Senior Vice President Malik Yasir Patwali told Dawn that since Adiala jail was located in Punjab, the wing’s president, Malik Taimoor Masood, had ensured that a large number of workers reached the venue at 3:30pm.

“Although it was 7th Muharram on Tuesday, an impressive number of leaders and workers reached outside Adiala jail. We have decided to continue increasing the pressure so that the meeting with Imran Khan is allowed,” he said.

While Imran Khan’s sisters were still sitting outside the jail, party leaders had started leaving late in the evening.

PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram told Dawn that Tuesday’s allocated meeting time ended without Imran Khan’s sisters being permitted to meet him despite prior arrangements.

Power of attorney controversy

In a statement, Mr Akram also condemned what he called the Adiala Jail administration’s persistent dissemination of “misleading” claims regarding power of attorney documents for Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi.

A day earlier, the Adiala superintendent had told the Islamabad High Court that the counsel for the PTI founder and his wife Bushra Bibi had attempted to mislead the court regarding the signing of the power of attorney in the Al Qadir Trust corruption case, claiming that they had deliberately not received it.

In his statement, Mr Akram said that Imran Khan’s legal team, comprising Barrister Salman Safdar and others, had made repeated visits to the jail over recent weeks and sent multiple formal communications, including through courier, only to be turned away empty-handed each time.

He said more than 20 power of attorney documents had been sent to the jail administration over the past six months, but no meaningful response was provided until a contempt petition was filed in the Islamabad High Court on June 15.

“Even then, compliance came merely days before the contempt hearing and was deliberately partial, offering only Imran Khan’s document while withholding Bushra Bibi’s. This selective and belated action was rightly rejected by the legal team,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government on Tues­day ruled out any blanket amnesty for leaders of the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), holding them responsible for recent deaths and violen­­ce and vowing to pursue legal action against them.

The regional administration and the JAAC remain divided over several issues, particularly the committee’s demand to abolish the 12 Legislative Assembly seats reserved for refugees from Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir who settled in Pakistan after 1947.

Addressing a joint press conference alongside Inspector General of Police (IGP) Liaqat Ali Malik, Chief Secretary Khushal Khan said the JAAC leadership had become divided over the ongoing process of negotiations and mediation.

“There will be no blanket amnesty,” he said, adding that the leadership of the proscribed organisation would have to face the consequences of the deaths and violence linked to its movement.

On Tuesday, a strike called by the JAAC continued in various parts of the region, with Muzaffarabad and Poonch divisions observing a partial strike.

Meanwhile, most routine activities had resumed in Mirpur. While some banks across AJK began their operations, connectivity issues persisted as internet services remained suspended. Public transport also remained off the roads in many areas.

Mr Khan said the government had offered the JAAC constitutional avenues, including an all-parties conference, an assembly session and legal recourse, to pursue its demand regarding the 12 refugee seats in the Legislative Assembly.

He claimed that while the government had kept all channels of dialogue open, the organisation had expanded its demands from two points to 38, and then added further demands.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has maintained that 35 out of 38 demands of the JAAC, agreed between it and the government last October, had been fulfilled.

The chief secretary said road blockades and violence were unacceptable, alleging that highways had been obstructed and goods trucks attacked in some areas.

He also claimed that an attempt had been made in Rawalakot to hijack trucks carrying relief supplies, which were later recovered by law enforcement agencies.

Mr Khan said subsidised flour and electricity had placed a financial burden on the government, with power tariff reductions potentially causing annual losses of Rs8bn to Rs10bn. He alleged that the JAAC leadership was attempting to use women and children as “human shields”.

The official further alleged that overseas activists linked to the JAAC were raising anti-state slogans.

He said: “Negotiations will never be held at gunpoint.”

IGP Malik alleged that JAAC activists opened fire on police during a checkpoint inspection on June 5, leaving one activist dead and injuring JAAC leader Umar Nazir and two policemen.

He claimed that a post-mortem examination of the deceased driver had indicated that he was shot in the back of the neck, suggesting that the fatal bullet had come from inside the vehicle rather than from security forces.

The police chief alleged that JAAC ac­­tivists attacked CMH Rawalakot, killing three policemen, and said law-enforcem­ent agencies would continue action against those involved in “anti-state” activities.

The IGP also alleged that women and children were being used as human shields, adding that there were reports of weapons being concealed under burqas.

Meanwhile, AJK PM Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore said reports of the proscribed JAAC seeking mediation from JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman validated the government’s call for dialogue to end the standoff.

Commenting on a video message by the veteran politician, he said the government had, from the outset, urged JAAC leaders not to abandon negotiations and to return to talks.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026

Justice Mohammad Karim Khan Agha of the FCC administered the oath to Justice Rizvi in a simple and dignified ceremony held at the Supreme Court Karachi Registry.

The oath-taking ceremony was attended by the acting Chief Justice of Supreme Court Mu­­nib Akhtar, Justice Moham­mad Shafi Siddiqui of the SC and officials of the FCC and SC.

A court house for the FCC in the provincial met­ropolis has recently been setup within the Supreme Court’s Karachi Registry.

According to the statement issued here by the FCC, Justice Aminuddin Khan is currently on an official visit to St Peters­burg in Russia to attend an international legal conference aimed at promoting judicial cooperation, exchange of legal expertise and dialogue on contemporary constitutional and legal issues.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026