Eala, the top seed and wor­ld No. 18, saw her hopes of becoming the first Fili­pina to win the women’s singles title unravel after Chi­na’s Wang Xiyu fought back for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory.

The 21-year-old Filipino had been one of the most popular athletes at the Games after becoming the first player from her country to win a WTA Tour title last month. She had also skipped the China Open to represent the Philippines in Nagoya, despite the possibility of a fine and ranking penalty.

Her defeat meant she would have to settle for bronze and also ended her hopes of securing an Olympic quota place for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, awarded to the Asian Games singles champion.

“I’m really happy to have experienced this, to experience the support ... and to be with the team and, yeah, to compete for the country,” Eala said.

Wang, ranked 85th, recovered after trailing 0-5 in the opening set and will meet compatriot Zhang Shuai in Friday’s final.

China, meanwhile, strengthened their grip on the Games medal table, crossing 150 gold medals and holding an unassailable lead over hosts Japan.

Japan sat second with 58 golds, while South Korea had 30 towards the end of day 12.

Japan enjoyed a golden day in wrestling, with Yuri Nakazato defeating India’s Nitesh Siwach 4-0 in the men’s Greco-Roman 97kg final. Nonoka Ozaki also won gold for the hosts by beating North Korea’s Kim Ok Ju 3-0 in the women’s freestyle 62kg final.

Home favourite Nao Kusaka, the Olympic champion, had to settle for silver in the Greco-Roman 77kg category after losing 5-2 to Iran’s Alireza Abdevali in the final.

Kusaka had earlier produced one of the day’s dramatic comebacks when he recovered from a 9-4 deficit to defeat Kazakhstan’s Demeu Zhadrayev 11-9 in a rematch of their Paris Olympic final.

South Korea’s Huh Mimi also claimed a landmark gold, beating Mon­golia’s Ariu­n­zaya Terbish in the women’s under-57kg judo final.

Born in Tokyo to a Kor­ean father and Japanese mother, Huh switched from representing Japan to South Korea in 2021 in accordance with her dying grandmother’s wish. The 23-year-old Olympic silver medallist won the final by yuko after a close contest that went the distance.

“It was a long and difficult journey,” Huh said after winning gold in the country of her birth.

The title was South Kor­ea’s first judo gold of the Games.

There was another breakthrough in esports, where China’s Mu Xinyue became the first woman to win an Asian Games gold medal in the discipline.

The 20-year-old was part of China’s team that defeated hosts Japan in the final of the horror-survival game Identity V. Mu is the only woman in China’s 23-member esports squad at the Games.

Women remain heavily under-represented in the competition, with only 14 of the 534 esports competitors — less than three per cent — being women.

“As the first female player to win the gold medal I don’t think gender is something that should define us or be used as a benchmark,” Mu said. “I think that whether you’re a man or a woman, everyone needs to have enough ability to compete at this level.”

In archery, 14-year-old South Korean Kang Yeon-seo won bronze in the women’s compound individual event after defeating compatriot Park Jung-yoon 145-143.

The teenager said she hoped to earn a place on South Korea’s renowned Olympic archery team.

“People see me as very young because I am the youngest, but I have put in a lot of work, too,” Kang said.

In golf, South Korea’s Tom Kim remained in contention for gold after carding a four-under 66 in the second round. The 24-year-old, a four-time PGA Tour winner, was two shots behind joint leaders Wang Wei-hsuan of Taiwan and China’s Ding Wenyi.

A gold medal would also bring Kim an exemption from South Korea’s compulsory military service.

Medals table

Tabulated under (rank, country, gold, silver, bronze, total)
1 China 154 71 63 288
2 Japan 59 79 79 217
3 South Korea 30 30 53 113
4 Uzbekistan 16 21 19 56
5 Iran 12 17 13 42
6 Thailand 12 11 15 38
7 Bahrain 11 5 5 21
8 India 10 22 32 64
9 Kazakhstan 9 19 36 64
10 North Korea 7 8 9 24
11 Malaysia 6 5 13 24
12 Hong Kong 5 14 19 38
13 Indonesia 5 8 21 34
14 UAE 5 4 0 9
15 Kuwait 4 1 4 9
16 Chinese Taipei 3 12 27 42
17 Qatar 3 6 5 14
18 Philippines 3 5 14 22
19 Singapore 2 6 4 12
20 Tajikistan 2 3 7 12
21 Vietnam 2 1 19 22
22 Myanmar 2 1 1 4
23 Macao 1 4 1 6
24 Saudi Arabia 1 2 9 12
25 Kyrgyzstan 1 2 7 10
26 Mongolia 1 1 8 10
27 Jordan 1 1 2 4
28 Sri Lanka 1 1 0 2
29 Iraq 0 2 3 5
30 Turkmenistan 0 2 0 2
31 Afghanistan 0 1 2 3
32 Lebanon 0 1 1 2
32 Oman 0 1 1 2
34 Pakistan 0 0 6 6
35 Cambodia 0 0 4 4
36 Nepal 0 0 2 2
37 Bangladesh 0 0 1 1
37 Brunei 0 0 1 1
37 Laos 0 0 1 1
37 Syria 0 0 1 1

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

In hockey, Pakistan were heart broken as their incredible fightback after going down 3-0 against India went in vain in the semi-final.

At the Aichi Prefectural General Shoo­ting Gallery, Bashir produced a composed performance in the final to finish third and put Pakistan on the shooting podium.

The 39-year-old had earlier qualified for the eight-man fin­al in sixth place, scoring 578 points with 19 inner tens across the two stages of the competition.

China and South Korea dominated the leading positions, but Bashir held his nerve through the high-pressure rapid series to secure the bronze medal.

The medal was Pakistan’s first in shooting at the Games and added to what proved to be an encouraging day across several sports.

In squash, Pakistan reached the men’s team final after edging Hong Kong 2-1 in a tense semi-final at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena.

The victory guaranteed Pakistan at least a silver medal and kept alive their hopes of winning the event for the first time since 2010. Pakistan had defeated South Korea in the quarter-final on Wednesday, which had already secured the country a third Asian Games squash team medal.

The semi-final began with Pa­k­istan suffering a setback as top-ranked player Noor Zaman went down 3-1 to experienced Ho­ng Kong player Tsz Kwan Lau.

Noor, ranked 33rd in the world, won a closely fought opening game 12-10 after the two players traded the lead throughout. Lau responded strongly, however, winning the next three games 11-3, 11-6 and 11-5 to put Hong Kong ahead.

Mohammad Ashab Irfan then levelled the tie with a determined 3-0 victory over world No. 57 Chi Hin Henry Leung.

Ashab won the opening game 11-5 after recovering from an early deficit. He then produced the turning point of the contest in the second game, coming back from 6-0 down and saving four game points before winning 13-11.

The 50th-ranked Pakistani carried the momentum into the third, opening up a 5-1 lead and eventually closing it out 11-7 to send the tie into a decider.

Experienced campaigner Nasir Iqbal was left with the task of completing the comeback against Cheuk Nam Lai, and he delivered in another dramatic four-game contest.

Nasir lost the opening game 12-10 after twice reaching game point, but responded emphatically to take the second 11-3.

The 32-year-old then moved ahead by winning the third 11-9. Lai mounted a strong fightback in the fourth, recovering from 7-2 down to level at 10-10 and twice reaching game point.

Nasir held his nerve, saving both opportunities before converting his second match point to win 14-12 and send Pakistan into the final.

Pakistan’s run has been built around the same core of Noor, Ashab, Nasir and Asim Khan that won silver at the 2022 Hangzhou Games, where they lost the final to India.

They will face the winner of the other semi-final between India and Malaysia in Saturday’s gold-medal match. A victory would give Pakistan their first Asian Games squash team title since 2010, when they defeated Malaysia 2-0 in the final in Guangzhou.

VOLLEYBALL SIDE DOWN INDIA

Pakistan also advanced to the men’s volleyball semi-finals with a convincing 3-0 victory over arch-rivals India at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Gymnasium.

Pakistan won 25-19, 25-23, 25-18 to defeat India at the Asian Games for the second consecutive edition.

Murad Khan led Pakistan’s attack with a match-high 22 points, while Usman Faryad Ali added nine and Mohammad Hamad contributed eight. Captain Murad Jehan scored four points.

Pakistan had entered the knockout stage after finishing runners-up in Pool ‘A’. They had beaten Kazakhstan 3-1 and Uzbekistan 3-0 before losing to hosts Japan in their final pool match.

India arrived in the quarter-final unbeaten, having swept Vietnam and Hong Kong 3-0 before edging Qatar in a five-set marathon to top Pool ‘C’.

Pakistan took control early, winning the opening set 25-19 in 23 minutes. India struggled to contain Pakistan’s attack, with the latter recording a 70 per cent spike success rate compared with India’s 41 per cent.

The second set proved crucial. India recovered from an early deficit to lead 16-13 and later 19-16, but Pakistan fought back to level at 19-19 before taking control. They reached set point at 24-22 and, after India saved one, converted the second to win 25-23.

The third set was largely one-way traffic. Pakistan moved from 8-4 to 14-9 and then 17-10 as India struggled to stay in the contest. India saved two match points, but Pakistan converted the third to close out the set 25-18 and complete the straight-sets victory.

HOCKEY HEARTBREAK

The day ended in disappointment for Pakistan’s men’s hockey team, who suffered a 4-3 defeat to India in a dramatic semi-final at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium.

India raced into a 3-0 lead through two penalty corners by captain Harmanpreet Singh and a field goal from Sukhjeet Singh.

Pakistan began their fightback when captain Abu Bakar Mahmood converted a penalty corner in the 30th minute. Abdul Hannan Shahid reduced the deficit further in the 45th before Rana Waheed Ashraf completed the comeback by making it 3-3 in the 49th minute.

Pakistan appeared set to force a penalty shootout, but with less than a minute remaining Abhishek found space on the right of the circle and his shot took a deflection before beating goalkeeper Muneeb-ur-Rehman Raza.

The defeat extended India’s unbeaten run against Pakistan to 21 matches. Pakistan will now play for bronze on Saturday, while India will contest the gold medal.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

The final will be played on Saturday at the Korogi Athletic Park Stadium, with Pakistan reaching the title decider for the first time in the Asian Games. India, the world champions, will be seeking back-to-back gold medals after winning the title in Hangzhou three years ago.

Pakistan’s semi-final was reduced to 13 overs a side because of a wet outfield, with Bangladesh posting 111-7 after being sent in to bat.

Pakistan’s bowlers made an early impact as Bangladesh slipped to 21-3 and then 45-4 in the sixth over. Towhid Hridoy, however, led a recovery with an aggressive 42 off 25 balls, hitting two fours and four sixes.

Sufyan Moqim was Pakistan’s most successful bowler with 3-26 as Bangladesh reached 111-7 from their 13 overs.

Pakistan lost four wickets while chasing the revised target but Abdul Samad and Hasan Nawaz settled the contest with an unbeaten 59-run partnership from 32 balls.

Samad finished with 30 not out off 15 balls while Nawaz made 27 without being dismissed. Samad produced the decisive assault in the 10th over, when Bangladesh still had Pakistan under pressure at 76-4. After Nawaz took a single from the first ball, Samad hit a six over long-on and then struck four consecutive fours off Mustafizur Rahman to collect 22 runs from the over.

Pakistan were left needing only 13 from 18 balls and completed the chase with nine balls to spare.

“We don’t really care about who will win and who will reach the final,” Pakistan batsman Saim Ayub, who made 21, said after the match.

“All we care about is winning the final, no matter who we are playing against.”

India later secured their place in the final with a comprehensive victory over Sri Lanka, who were bowled out for just 45 in 9.5 overs while chasing 170.

Jasprit Bumrah set the tone for India with two wickets in his first over, reducing Sri Lanka to 2-2. Further wickets and three run-outs followed as the Sri Lankan innings disintegrated.

Nuwanidu Fernando, who made 15, was Sri Lanka’s only batsman to reach double figures. Abhishek Sharma took two wickets for two runs from five balls as India completed Sri Lanka’s lowest total in a men’s T20 international.

India had earlier posted 169-7 after being asked to bat on a sharply turning pitch.

Ishan Kishan anchored the innings with an unbeaten 80 off 46 balls, including five sixes, while 15-year-old opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi marked his Asian Games debut with a brisk 38 off 21 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes.

The semi-finalists had reached the last four on the basis of their international rankings after all four quarter-finals were washed out by rain.

India’s victory also set up a repeat of the rivalry that has defined much of Asian cricket, although the teams have met only rarely in recent years outside major international tournaments. Pakistan and India will now contest the gold medal, while Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will meet for bronze, also on Saturday.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

While an incoming batter can be dismissed “timed out” for taking too long to face their first delivery, there is no fixed limit to how much time a batter can take between deliveries.

But in general, a batter is expected to be prepared for a delivery as soon as the fielding team and the bowler are ready.

“If a batter is not ready to face the ball within the prescribed time, a warning will be issued for the first offence, a final warning for the second, and five penalty runs awarded to the fielding side for the third and each subsequent offence,” the ICC said in a statement on Thursday.

The warnings are reset at the end of the innings or after 80 overs.

The ICC also announced tighter regulations for the size and weight of the balls, introducing three distinct specifications for men’s, women’s and junior cricket.

The governing body has also allowed pink balls, which are used in day-night tests, to be trialled in daytime Tests by mutual agreement between the teams before the match.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

Pakistan have also been drawn alongside Afghanistan, co-hosts Zimbabwe and a qualifier in Group ‘A’ for the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

India and Australia will open the main tournament phase with their encounter at Newlands in Cape Town on Oct 7, a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final.

Pakistan will begin their campaign against Afghanistan in Centurion on Oct 8, two days before their meeting with India at the Wanderers.

The 14-team tournament will begin with a three-team Super Series in Namibia on Oct 2, involving the three lowest-ranked qualifiers. The winner will progress to the group stage, which begins on Oct 7.

The 12 teams in the group stage will be divided into two groups of six, with each side playing the others once. The top three teams from each group, along with the highest-ranked fourth-placed side, will advance to the Super Seven phase.

The Super Seven will be a single round-robin competition, with the top four progressing to the semi-finals. Cape Town and Centurion will host the semi-finals on Nov 17 and 18 respectively, while the final will be played at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Nov 21.

Group ‘B’ comprises co-hosts South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh and another qualifier.

The tournament will mark the return of the men’s World Cup to Africa for the first time since 2003 and Namibia’s first hosting of matches at the senior event.

The ICC also opened its ticket ballot on Thursday, with fans able to register until Nov 21, 2026. Entry to the ballot is free, while ticket prices will start at approximately $9.50.

India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since 2012 due to political tensions and now meet primarily in ICC events.

India have won all eight of their World Cup meetings, including their most recent encounter at the 2023 edition.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

Wicket-keeper/batter Rizwan has been under the NCCIA probe during the past month or so after the agency confiscated the 34-year-old player’s mobile phone in England during Pakistan Test team’s tour to the country over allegations concerning online betting, gambling and team information leaks from the dressing room. Pakistan suffered a 3-0 whitewash in the said series.

Sources told Dawn that the NCCIA, investigating the matter involving Rizwan, issued him a second notice on Thursday. Sources close to the wicket-keeper said that he would appear before the agency along with his lawyer.

Some electronic media outlets quoting Rizwan have reported that the second notice mentions no word about the allegation of online betting and gambling.

The immediate purpose stated in the notice is the forensic examination and analysis of Rizwan’s mobile phone, which was taken from him by the NCCIA on the night of Aug 30-31.

However, sources said Rizwan is demanding clarity as to exactly what he is being investigated for.

Interestingly, NCCIA’s fresh notice issued on Wednesday stated that Rizwan was being investigated under the “relevant provisions of PECA 2016”, the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, though the agency did not clarify what provision of that clause Rizwan had violated.

Rizwan, who handed over his mobile phone to the NCCIA on Aug 30-31 night, has complained that he was not given a seizure receipt, warrant or custody document, and has repeatedly asked for the phone to be returned.

The NCCIA, however, wants Rizwan present so that it can carry out the forensic examination of the device with his cooperation.

It may be mentioned here that Rizwan had also moved the Lahore High Court through his lawyer to challenge the NCCIA inquiry and notice.

However, on Sept 17, LHC Chief Justice Aalia Neelum did not quash the investigation and directed the cricketer’s lawyer to respond to the agency and cooperate.

At the same time, the LHC directed the NCCIA not to harass or unnecessarily inconvenience Rizwan while the inquiry proceeds.

The cricketer, in the meantime, has also written a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) on the case asking if it has any role in it.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

England, on Thursday, named a 16-man squad for ODIs against Pakistan and Sri La­n­ka in Rawalpindi and Lahore, with But­tler and batsman Jacob Bethell both sidelined.

But leg-spinner Adil Rashid is fit enough to return after a hand problem, and all-rounder Sam Curran is back in the group after a groin issue.

Glamorgan leg-spinner Mason Crane, who is uncapped in ODIs, has earned a first international call-up in nearly nine years.

In the series, which starts on Oct 18, teams play each other twice, with the top two advancing to the final.

England’s limited-overs head coach Brendon McCullum had previously confirmed that wicket-keeper/batsman Buttler would miss the tri-series after suffering a hamstring injury in the recent ODI series against Sri Lanka.

Last month, Buttler became the first England batsman to score 10,000 runs in international white-ball cricket, including both 50-over ODIs and T20 matches.

Squad: Harry Brook (captain), Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, James Coles, Jordan Cox, Mason Crane, Henry Crocombe, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Josh Tongue.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

Ronaldo announced late on Wednesday that he had left the team, shortly after a press conference in which Jesus confirmed the five-time Ballon d’Or winner would be left out of his starting line-up for a second consecutive game.

The former Real Madrid forward had been due to train with his team-mates at the Parken Stadium on the eve of the UEFA Nations League match against the Danes, but walked out following the announcement by Jesus.

“After the press conference of the national team coach, and following a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have made the decision to leave the role of the national team,” Ronaldo wrote on Instagram.

Ronaldo had already spent the entirety of Sunday’s 2-1 Nations League win in Norway on the bench, having captained the side in the 1-0 home victory over Wales last Thursday.

It is common practice for national team coaches to rotate their squads for these matches, which do not carry the same level of importance as a World Cup or European Champ­ionship.

However, Ronaldo appeared to indicate that the reasons behind Jesus’s decision ran deeper.

“In due time, I will tell the Portuguese people the truth about the reasons that motivated my departure from the national team, to which I have always dedicated myself,” he added in comments that hinted at a permanent withdrawal from the international stage.

“Now is time to wish Portugal and all my team-mates the very best for the future, without exception.”

Spanish sports daily Marca said Jesus and Portuguese federation president Pedro Proenca followed Ronaldo to Copenhagen airport in an attempt to persuade him to stay with the squad, before the player boarded his private jet.

Jesus insisted earlier on Wednesday that there was no rift between him and Ronaldo, although the 72-year-old — appointed coach in July — acknowledged that his captain was disappointed to remain on the bench against Norway.

The news sparked a wave of me­mes on social media and furious backlash from Ronaldo’s sister, Elma Aveiro.

“They don’t deserve to have the best of anything,” she said about the Portuguese people on Instagram.

“We are envious, scornful, and ignorant, and we deserve to return to the mediocrity that defined us in the pre-CR7 era of football.”

The game in Oslo was the first time since November 2024 that Ronaldo had not featured for Portugal while not being either injured or suspended.

“There was no incident whatsoever,” Jesus, who coached Ronaldo at Saudi club Al-Nassr for a year before taking the Portugal job, told reporters after that match.

“Any player — and I was a player myself... when you spend 20 or 30 minutes warming up and then don’t get on... no one is happy about that,” Jesus added on Wednesday.

The Portuguese coach also said he had told Ronaldo before the match that he would not be in the starting line-up, but that he might bring him on.

“Afterwards, as coach, I decided not to bring him on. It’s nothing to make a fuss about,” Jesus insisted.

Jesus said earlier that against Denmark he again intended to start AC Milan striker Goncalo Ramos, who scored the winner in Norway.

“If everything goes according to plan, it will be Goncalo who plays,” he said, before adding regarding Ronaldo: “If I need him, he’ll come on. If I don’t need him, he won’t.”

Ronaldo recently announced that this season would “probably (be) my last year in football”.

He is Portugal’s leading goalscorer and most capped player, with 146 goals in 234 appearances.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

Yaya Sithole, Iqraam Rayners and Luther Singh also netted in Cairo. Eritrea hosted the matchday two fixture in Egypt as they do not have an international-standard stadium.

Initially, Eritrea did not resemble a team 134 places below South Africa. They went on the offensive, testing goalkeeper Ron­wen Wil­lians. But once Mofo­keng, 21, broke the deadlock on 19 minutes, South Africa took control and missed matching their record AFCON qualifying win margin of 6-0 against the Seychelles.

Mofokeng struck again at the end of the first half for a 2-0 half-time lead at Al Salam Stadium in the Egyptian capital.

Sithole scored early in the second half, then Ray­ners became the first South Africa forward to find the net in six matches by slamming the ball across goalkeeper Yonathan Sultan.

Substitute Singh completed the rout four minutes into added time to take South Africa five poi­nts clear of Kenya and Erit­rea in Group ‘D’. Guinea are pointless.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

BEIJING: World number two Alexander Zverev beat Cameron Norrie 7-6(7/1), 6-4 to kick-start his bid for the China Open on Thursday.

The 29-year-old is the top seed in Beijing after world number one Jannik Sinner, the reigning champion, withdrew due to injury.

Zverev hit 15 aces but did not have it all his own way against Norrie, ranked 40th, who had some joy pushing the German around the court.

The Briton came within a point of winning the first set, but the US Open champion closed out the game and capitalised in the tie-break when Norrie fired long.

Zverev was similarly clinical in the second set, which followed serve until he broke Norrie in the 10th game to take match point at the first time of asking.

He will play Shang Juncheng of China, ranked 250th, in the second round.

“I’m really surprised and really happy with how I played,” said Zverev, who only arrived in China from Europe two days ago after helping Team Europe to the Laver Cup.

Also on Thursday, Russia’s Roman Safiullin upset Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, brushing aside the French Open finalist 6-3, 6-2 to set up a second-round tie against countryman Andrey Rublev.

Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz ousted American Learner Tien, who reached last year’s final, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 for a second-round meeting with French qualifier Arthur Gea.

In the women’s draw, Zheng Qinwen needed two hours and 44 minutes to hold off world number 231 Shi Han in the first round, beating her compatriot 7-6(8/6), 4-6, 6-2.

Both players struggled to win points on the sun-baked side of a split-screen court, but the Paris Olympic champion fought through 44 unforced errors to earn a meeting with Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya.

Zheng, the current world number 54, has struggled with form since needing elbow surgery last year, although she made the US Open quarter-finals as a qualifier.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

Khyber were initially put under pressure by Potohar, who dominated the early exchanges, but gradually found their rhythm and began to control the midfield.

Abbas put Khyber ahead in the 15th minute before the side tightened its grip on the match through energetic play on the wings.

Potohar continued to compete but struggled to create a decisive opening as Khyber grew in influence. Atif then settled the contest with two late goals, scoring in the 88th and 90th minutes.

In the second match, Harappa appeared on course for victory after scoring twice in first-half stoppage time. Husnain gave them the lead in the second minute of added time before Faizan doubled the advantage two minutes later.

Bolan responded strongly after the interval, with Zohaib reducing the deficit in the 53rd minute. Their pressure eventually earned them a penalty, which Kaleemullah converted in the 70th minute to level the scores.

Both sides continued to push for a winner but neither could find the decisive goal as the match ended 2-2.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

The British two-time world champions will finally lock horns in Cardiff on Dec 11 after years of false starts and barbs at each other.

Those expecting fireworks as the two shared a stage in front of a crowd of 1,000 fans were left disappointed as both showed respect for their adversary’s career.

Fury invited Joshua to join him for a “pint of Guinness” once they had finished in the ring, while the 2012 Olympic gold medallist ended a face-to-face exchange by tickling Fury in the midriff.

The vacant WBA super heavyweight title is expected to be on the line, and Fury hit back at criticism that the pair are only coming together well past their peak.

“People say this fight is too late,” said the self-styled “Gypsy King”. “It’s the icing on the cake for two great careers when we throw down in front of 80,000 people. May the best man win.”

The fight appeared destined for Saudi Arabia or the United States during the early stages of negotiations, but Joshua believes the chance to face off on British soil will “inspire a generation”.

“I’m really grateful for this opportunity and for bringing it to Great Britain because I know people in pubs have had proper fights about who will win and family members have fallen out,” he said.

“We’ll inspire this generation and the next generation. It was people from this country supporting us. I’m fulfilling my destiny before I depart this world.”

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

Ghani Glass, resuming at 191-4, were bowled out for 416 in 100.4 overs, with captain Mohsin Riaz completing his fifth first-class century. Mohsin made 124 off 212 balls, hitting 12 fours and two sixes.

Ali Razzaq (52), Shadab Khan (68) and Khurram Shahzad (52) also struck half-centuries. MIT pacer Mohammad Ismail claimed 6-136, his ninth five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.

MIT, who had been dismissed for 150 in their first innings, were bowled out for 126 in their second. Ali Shabbir claimed 4-23 while Khurram and Mirza Tahir Baig took two wickets each. Syed Awad Naqvi remained unbeaten on 28.

At the Imran Khan Stadium in Peshawar, SNGPL enforced the follow-on after dismissing PTV for 153, with debutant Abdul Subhan and Athar taking four wickets each. Subhan finished with 4-31 and Athar 4-41. SNGPL had earlier made 347, with Azan Awais scoring 167.

At the Diamond Cricket Ground, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reduced Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDCL) to 142 in their second innings to set themselves a target of 124. Afaq Afridi claimed 5-44, while Sirajuddin took 3-50. Mohammad Amir Khan hit an unbeaten 46 off 19 balls for OGDCL.

Earlier, Aftab Ahmed had taken 5-68 as SBP were dismissed for 215, giving them a 19-run first-innings lead.

At the National Ground, Kingsmen Academy declared their first innings at 643-8 against KRL, with Mohammad Suleman making a career-best 182 and Salman Ali Agha scoring 145. KRL reached 175-2 by stumps, with Mohammad Faiq unbeaten on 76 and Iftikhar Ahmed on 45, but still trailed by 468 runs.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

TOKYO: Carlos Alcaraz began his defence of the Japan Open title with a battling 7-6(7/1), 4-6, 6-1 win over Alex Michelsen in Tokyo on Thursday.

The Spanish world number three struggled to find his rhythm early on, spraying shots long or into the net as the big-serving Ame­r­ican stayed aggressive.

He pulled away in the tie-break but was pinned back in the second set, with Michelsen, ranked 34th, gaining parity after a marathon 10th game.

From there, though, the seven-time Grand Slam champion suddenly found form, mixing a barrage of blistering aces with delicate volleys to nullify his opponent’s threat.

It was ultimately a hear­t­ening performance for Alcaraz, who only returned to action at the US Open in August after a four-month injury layoff.

He will play Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi, ranked 37th, in the next round.

Earlier, second-seeded Frances Tiafoe cruised past Kei Nishikori 6-4, 6-4 in the beloved home star’s final career match.

“I am happy that in my spirit I remained competitive until the end,” Nishikori said in an emotional post-match ceremony.

In other matches, Spa­nish qualifier Jaume Mu­­nar upset third-seeded Tay­lor Fritz, the 2022 champion, 7-6(9/7), 4-6, 6-3.

Sixth seed Casper Ruud also crashed out to Luciano Darderi of Italy, 7-6(7/3), 6-3. And fifth-seeded Ame­r­­ican Brandon Nakashima also left the tournament with a 6-3, 6-2 defeat to Frenchman Ugo Humbert.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

Australia won by 45 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method after rain ended South Africa’s reply to Australia’s 322 for nine after 28 overs.

South Africa, who won the first two matches to clinch the series, were struggling on 145 for four at the stoppage, well short of the required rate.

“I thought the batting in particular showed some real improvement, especially from a few of our young guys,” said Marsh. “It was a disappointing series but nice to finish with a win.”

Marsh said there were encouraging signs looking ahead to the 2027 Cricket World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

“It’s gradual improvement. We have some guys that haven’t a lot of experience at this level and in particular playing in South Africa agai­nst a team that plays very well at home.”

Marsh said he was sorry the match had not gone the distance, which seemed a fair comment because Ryan Rickelton, on 71 not out, was the last remaining specialist batsman after Tony de Zorzi injured a hamstring while fielding and was ruled out of the rest of the match.

South Africa, having already won the series, rested key players in captain Temba Bavuma, batsman David Miller and bowlers Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj.

Australian Test captain Pat Cum­mins returned for his first One-day International since November 2024.

Marsh and Travis Head again gave Australia a fast start after stand-in captain Aiden Markram won the toss and sent them in, putting on 78 for the first wicket off 53 balls.

Unlike in the first two matches, there were solid contributions down the Australian batting order, ancho­red by Alex Carey’s 74 off 88 balls.

Australia’s bowlers kept the pressure on South Africa. Xavier Bartlett was excellent with the new ball, dismissing Quinton de Kock and Mark­ram inside the ten-over powerplay.

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa found his best form after being expensive in the first two matches, taking two for 33 in six overs, while Cummins built up lively pace. Although he did not take a wicket, he conceded only 17 runs in five overs.

Bavuma said in accepting the series trophy that South Africa had “definitely made strides” during the series. He said the decision to rest leading players was a combination of providing opportunities to other players and prioritising a three-match Test series which starts in Durban on October 9.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA:
M. Marsh lbw b Fortuin 56
T. Head b Bosch 24
C. Connolly b Coetzee 23
O. Peake c Fortuin b Bosch 48
A. Carey c Williams b Bosch 74
M. Renshaw c Markram b Coetzee 30
C. Green c de Kock b Bosch 23
X. Bartlett b Williams 2
P. Cummins c Breetzke b Williams 11
M. Starc not out 11
A. Zampa not out 0

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-8, NB-2, W-9) 20
TOTAL (for nine wickets, 50 overs) 322
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-78 (Head), 2-94 (Marsh), 3-118 (Connolly), 4-191 (Peake), 5-257 (Renshaw), 6-285 (Carey), 7-288 (Bartlett), 8-298 (Green), 9-314 (Cummins)
BOWLING: Coetzee 9-1-61-2 (3w), Williams 6-0-48-2 (1w, 1nb), Bosch 9-1-60-4 (1w), Fortuin 9-0-50-1, Mokoena 7-0-42-0 (3w, 1nb), Markram 8-0-42-0 (1w), Stubbs 2-0-10-0

SOUTH AFRICA:
A. Markram lbw b Bartlett 15
Q. de Kock c Starc b Bartlett 0
R. Rickelton not out 71
M. Breetzke st Carey b Zampa 25
T. Stubbs lbw b Zampa 14
C. Bosch not out 13

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-3) 7
TOTAL (for four wickets, 28 overs) 145
DID NOT BAT: T. de Zorzi, G. Coetzee, B. Fortuin, N. Mokoena, L. Williams
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-4 (de Kock), 2-30 (Markram), 3-102 (Breetzke), 4-125 (Stubbs)
BOWLING: Starc 6-0-33-0 (1w), Bartlett 5-0-25-2, Cummins 5-0-17-0, Connolly 3-0-13-0, Renshaw 1-0-8-0, Zampa 6-0-34-2 (1w), Peake 2-0-11-0

RESULT: Australia won by 45 runs (DLS method).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Alex Carey
SERIES: South Africa won the three-match series 2-1.
MAN-OF-THE-SERIES: Keshav Maharaj

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

According to his son-in-law Tauqir Dar, Zaka­uddin’s funeral will be held at 1:30pm on Friday after afternoon prayer at Block H Masjid, Phase IV, DHA Lahore.

Zakauddin, who was best­owed upon the Pride of Performance, the country’s highest civil award, by the government of Pakistan in 2009, was born in Jalandhar in 1936. A member of the Pakistan team, which won their very first gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics, Zakauddin represented the country from 1958 to 1966 during which he was part of a number of major achievements made by Pakistan ho­ckey during its golden era.

Zakauddin, a centre-forward, played 56 matches for Pakistan scoring 26 international goals in an illustrious career.

Besides the 1960 Olym­pic gold, he was also a member of the next Olympics hel­d in Tokyo in 1964 whe­re Pakistan claimed silver.

Two consecutive gold medals in the Asian Games — 1958 (Tokyo) and 1962 (Jakarta) — are also part of his distinguished profile. He was also a silver medallist at the 1966 Asian Games held in Bangkok.

Later, Zakauddin also worked in different roles with the national team as coach, manager and chief selector. He returned as head coach ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However, Pakistan hockey was experiencing a continuous decline at that time, as the country finished eighth in Beijing, which forced Zakauddin to resign.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

Steep nervousness amid elevated oil prices remained the key factor threatening macroeconomic stability, as costly energy imports continued to weigh on the cost of doing business.

Topline Securities Ltd said the KSE-100 index endured a volatile, predominantly negative session, opening higher and briefly moving above the 170,000 level. However, the early momentum failed to hold as profit-taking and broad-based selling intensified in the latter part of the session, resulting in a 1,332.47-point decline, or 0.78 per cent, to close at 168,636.85.

Pakistan Petroleum, United Bank, Hub Power, Oil and Gas Development Company, and Fauji Fertiliser remained the major drags, collectively wiping out around 470 points. Selling pressure was seen across banks, E&Ps, cements, and OMCs, reflecting a cautious trading environment.

Index briefly tops 170,000 before closing at 168,636 on subdued volumes

Market sentiment weakened further as elevated crude oil prices and persistent geopolitical uncertainty prompted investors to adopt a more cautious stance.

Investor participation remained subdued as trading volume fell 7.24pc to 548.4 million shares and turnover value dipped 15.54pc to Rs17.05 billion.

According to Arif Habib Ltd (AHL), market breadth was distinctly negative, with 14 shares rising and 86 falling. Kohinoor Textile Mills (1.02pc), Service Industries (0.26pc) and Attock Refinery (0.21pc) contributed most to index gains.

The sell-off coincided with fresh inflation data. Headline inflation in September rose to 10.3pc year-on-year, up sharply from 5.8pc in September 2025. As a result, average inflation for the first quarter of FY27 has jumped to 10.21pc, up from 4.30pc recorded in the same period last year.

On the energy front, the government is in discussions with its counterparts in Iran to secure safe passage for two October shipments of Qatari liquefied natural gas through the Strait of Hormuz.

AHL further noted that with sentiment turning cautious, the bias remains to the downside, with the 166,000 level clearly in sight.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

The new front-month December Brent crude futures contract settled at $102.31 a barrel, up 4.37 per cent or $4.28. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures finished at $92.87 a barrel, up 2.71pc, or $2.45.

A Wall Street Journal report said the US was sending a third aircraft carrier and up to 10,000 more troops to the Middle East as President Donald Trump weighed resuming strikes on Iran after the US midterm elections.

The comments, coupled with China’s suspension of fuel exports, contributed to a volatile trading session. Oil prices fell 1pc early but reversed course after Reuters reported that Chinese refiners had suspended exports of oil products beyond Hong Kong and Macau until further notice, citing four people familiar with the matter.

While crude supplies continue to reach the market, diesel and other refined products remain in short supply following damage to refinery infrastructure in the Gulf and Russia.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

The country’s total liquid foreign reserves stood at $26.77bn, including $5.331bn held by commercial banks.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

He also noted interest from Turkish investors in the privatisation of electricity distribution companies, alongside gro­wing interest from Saudi and other international investors across a range of sectors.

He stressed that foreign investment takes time to materialise and requires policy continuity, effective facilitation and a conducive investment ecosystem.

Addressing members of the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) on Thursday, he said Pakistan’s economy was moving in the right direction, stressing that sustainable economic growth would have to be led by the private sector, while the government would continue to provide a conducive business environment, policy framework and investment ecosystem.

According to an official press release, Senator Aurangzeb said Pakistan’s economy had progressed from a difficult period of economic contraction and stabilisation towards growth.

“Three years ago, the country’s economy had contracted. Today, we have moved from stabilisation towards gro­wth, and we have to make sure that this growth remains sustainable,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of domestic investment and capital formation, the finance minister referred to the PIA transaction, in which major Pakistani business groups demonstrated their ability to work together and mobilise close to $1.2 billion collectively. He said such participation reflected the growing capacity of local investors to create scale and pursue larger investment opportunities.

“The government’s job is to provide a business-friendly and enabling environment; the private sector has to lead economic growth,” the finance minister said.

He added that the government would continue to provide the required policy framework, regulatory facilitation and investment ecosystem, including thro­ugh engagement with US EXIM Bank, other export credit agencies and international partners, as well as through tariff discussions and negotiations.

He noted that the number of tax filers had crossed 5.7 million, compared with around 3.9m last year and approximately 1.8m to 1.9m in 2022.

Referring to the Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar Programme, he said around Rs60bn had already been financed, while banks had approved a substantial additional financing pipeline.

He emphasised that the challenge was increasingly shifting from the availability of financing to strengthening the supply side and ensuring that available credit translated into construction, investment, employment and broader economic activity.

He said the government was working to strengthen the broader capital-market ecosystem and create greater avenues for capital formation and investment.

The finance minister said Pakistan’s economic trajectory would increasingly depend on the private sector’s ability to invest, innovate, create employment and expand productive capacity, while the government would focus on policy continuity, facilitation and sound economic governance.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

The slight deceleration in inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index, reve­r­sed the sharp increase rec­orded in August, when hig­her food and energy prices pushed the annual rate to 11.1pc from 9.2pc in July.

The easing was more pronounced in rural areas, where inflation slowed to 10.5pc from 12.2pc, while urban inflation decelerated to 10.1pc from 10.4pc.

However, despite the slo­w­down in the annual rate, prices rose 1.3pc month-on-month in September. The annual inflation was 5.8pc in September 2025.

Food inflation dropped to 8.1pc in urban areas in September from 12.1pc in August. The decline was much sharper in rural areas, where food inflation fell to 7.7pc from 13.2pc a month earlier.

However, non-food inflation moved in the opposite direction, indicating continued pressure on household expenses. Urban non-food inflation accelerated to 11.5pc from 9.4pc in August, while rural non-food inflation increased to 13.1pc from 11.3pc.

In August, food, housing and utilities, and transport together contributed 8.2 percentage points, or about three-quarters of headline inflation. Food alone contributed 4.9 percentage poi­nts. The latest data show that the composition of inflation shifted in Septe­mber. While food inflation slowed shar­ply, electricity and transport costs continued to rise.

Electricity charges rose 15.28pc while motor fuel prices up 10.76pc in urban areas. Transport costs rose by 5.75pc and were 27.43pc higher than in the same month last year.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

The issue came into the public spotlight on Thursday when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, addressing the Pakistan Stock Exchange via video link, categorically expressed dissatisfaction with exporters’ performance despite what he described as “several incentives” extended in the budget.

“We have given incentives to the export sector, but its performance remains unsatisfactory,” the premier said, adding that while he did not wish to single anyone out, exporters had failed to deliver.

He noted that the government had provided extensive support long sought by the sector, including measures that raised unit prices, yet overall performance remained below expectations. Mr Sharif also said he had briefed the IMF managing director on Pakistan’s economic performance.

Soon after, former president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jawed Bilwani issued a statement placing responsibility on the federal government to implement export-friendly policies. “Policy formulation and its operations are in the hands of the federal government — not the exporters,” he said.

Mr Bilwani, Coordinator of the All Pakistan Exporters Association Forum, said exporters were struggling for survival amid unprecedented challenges, including high manufacturing costs, lack of competitiveness, and the absence of a level playing field.

While supporting the prime minister’s call for higher exports and sustainable growth, he stressed that exporters could not be held accountable for structural problems beyond their control.

He highlighted that Pakistani exporters operate on narrow profit margins compared to regional competitors, face higher taxes than other businesses, and endure prolonged delays in refund payments without compensation. He added that arbitrary FBR deductions, liquidity pressures, and high operational costs were crippling the sector.

Mr Bilwani also criticised the imposition of taxes and duties on imported yarn under the Export Facilitation Scheme, saying it created additional liquidity pressures without benefiting the local yarn industry. He noted that several exporting industries had shifted operations abroad due to such hardships. Expressing grave concern over transporters’ strikes, he said the recent nine-day nationwide disruption caused massive losses, vessel shutouts, detention charges, and mounting demurrage.

He urged the government to establish an emergency cell at the Prime Minister’s Office to ensure reliable and competitive export logistics.

He further pointed to costly utilities, frequent outages of electricity, gas, and water, and capacity charges for IPPs as factors slowing export growth. He added that labour productivity was hampered by a lack of public transport and prolonged loadshedding.

Despite these challenges, Mr Bilwani emphasised that Pakistan’s export-oriented industries had invested heavily in modern technology, quality control, certifications, skilled manpower, and value addition to meet stringent global standards.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research, which met on Thursday under the chairmanship of Syed Tariq Hussain, also urged the government to finalise the national wheat policy covering the 2026-30 period before the commencement of the wheat sowing season, observing that decisions taken after the sowing season would have little practical value for farmers.

The committee asked the Ministry of National Food Security to ensure timely decisions on the minimum support price and uniform subsidy programme for all farmers across the country.

Calls for uniform subsidy mechanism for farmers across country

It also directed the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA) to brief the committee on its progress since 2024 and submit the required rules and regulations.

The committee expressed concern over the major challenges facing the agriculture sector, including rising input costs, inadequate mechanisation, poor-quality seeds, insufficient agricultural research, limited subsidies, inadequate storage facilities, weak export performance and the absence of uniform and timely agricultural policies.

Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain briefed the committee on last year’s interim wheat policy, the proposed National Wheat Policy 2026-2030 and various subsidy models under consideration. He said consultations with all provincial governments would be held within a week to finalise the policy and that it would be announced before the sowing season.

The committee emphasised the need for a uniform subsidy programme across the country, noting differences in provincial approaches. It was informed that Punjab was considering support through the ‘Kissan Card’, Sindh was providing assistance to farmers having up to 25 acres, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be providing an in-kind subsidy of Rs5,000.

The committee called for a simple and accessible mechanism that benefits farmers across the country.

Rana Tanveer urged the committee members to engage with their respective provincial governments and encourage their participation in the national wheat policy.

The committee emphasised that agriculture is a key pillar of the national economy and called for coordinated measures to improve farmers’ profitability and agricultural productivity.

The committee members also raised concerns about the availability of storage and marketing arrangements after the closure of Passco, noting that farmers would have limited alternatives for storing and marketing their wheat. They observed that private storage facilities often demand advance payments, creating additional financial pressure on farmers.

The members also highlighted the high cost of fertilisers and other agricultural inputs and called for measures to reduce production costs and ensure the timely availability of inputs.

The standing committee also discussed rice exports and was informed that a good rice crop was expected this year. It called for enhanced efforts to expand export markets and improve the competitiveness of Pakistani agricultural products.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

Addressing a gong ceremony virtually for the listing of Naya Nazimabad Apartments real estate investment trust (Reit) at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), he said many sectors had been protected since the 1960s but had failed to deliver expected returns in exports or import substitution.

But while the private sector is being asked to take a greater role in driving growth, business leaders said the government also needs to create the right taxation and regulatory environment for investment to expand.

Emphasising the importance of the real estate and construction sector, business tycoon Arif Habib said it creates employment for 40 related industries. Showing a 2002 photo of the barren land on which Dolmen City was built, Mr Habib pointed out that the mall now supports more than 7,000 jobs and generates annual rent of Rs5.83 billion.

Says decades of protection failed to deliver returns

The Arif Habib Group has 16 Reit funds with a combined size of $630 million in the pipeline, of which four have been listed so far. The total project size of the 16 funds is around $4bn.

Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), said the potential for formalisation extended well beyond individual Reit projects. The country’s real estate market was worth around Rs7.6 trillion, he said, but much of this wealth remains undocumented and outside the banking system.

Reits could bring greater documentation, governance and liquidity to the sector.

Building on the importance of construction, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said Rs60 billion had been disbursed so far under the PM Apna Ghar housing scheme, with banks approving Rs340bn. “The banking industry has stepped up,” he said, adding that the supply side now needed to respond with more housing.

While acknowledging potential in various sectors, the fina­nce minister warned against falling back into the boom-bust cycle. “We can push growth towards 6 per cent by pumping liquidity in the market, but this would create the familiar balance of payments problems,” he warned.

Part of the government’s strategy is to show more fiscal discipline and turn towards retail investors rather than banks. The Capital Market Development Council is formulating a framework to tap into all asset classes, including venture capital, infrastructure funds, equities, sukuk, Reits, etc.

That transition, he suggested, would also require looking beyond traditional sectors. The ‘new economy’ extends to crypto, Web3 and blockchain, he said, with Pakistan having an opportunity to help shape rules for the Global South rather than simply adopt them.

Against this backdrop, the finance minister emphasised the growth in retail investors. The number of stock market investors has increased by 185,000 over the past six months, from around 500,000-600,000, and the SECP is targeting 2.5 million investors, roughly 1pc of Pakistan’s total population.

Gen Z and millennials account for over 80pc of the new investor base over the past year and are used to digital convenience, PSX Chief Executive Farrukh Sabzwari said. As the exchange is overhauled to keep up with the times, he said extending the stock market’s operating hours beyond 5pm is under consideration.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

The meeting was presided over by Prince Ahmed Umar Ahmedzai, who was nominated as presiding officer by committee members in the absence of the permanent chairman.

The proposed legislation aims to reorganise institutions responsible for land and water management to improve their capacity and performance and establish an integrated system to address existing and future challenges related to water resources. The bill also seeks to advance institutional reforms in line with the Balochistan Water Policy and promote sustainable development.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

Pakistan’s Qazi Shaukat Fareed is currently the Permanent Observer for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean to the United Nations and UN System.

The other new advisory group members are: Ms Beth Delaney, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Australia to UN; Ms Sophie De Smedt, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Belgium to UN; Ms Lauratuulia Lehtinen, Deputy Director General in the Department for Development Policy at Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs; Ms Michelle Winthrop, Humanitarian Director at Irish Department of Foreign Affairs; Jongin Bae, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to UN; Ryan Shrum, Senior Bureau Official for Disaster and Humanitarian Response at the US Department of State; and Dr Rurik Marsden, Head of Humanitarian Policy and Programmes in the Humanitarian Directorate of the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Cons­ti­tutional Court (FCC) on Thursday no­­tified the Federal Constitutional Cou­­rt (Practice and Procedure) Rules, 2026 under Article 191 of the Constitution to regulate its practice and procedure.

Part III, Order XXVI, prescribes the original jurisdiction of the FCC under Article 175E of the Constitution for the enforcement of fundamental rights.

The rules suggest that any petition for a writ of habeas corpus accompanied by an affidavit sworn by the person alleged to be restrained, also explaining that the petitioner has approached the concerned high court, will be fixed for hearing as early as possible and, in any case, no later than seven days from the date of its filing.

The rules state that no court fee will be payable on a petition for a writ of habeas corpus or on any other petition under Article 175E(3) of the Constitution arising out of criminal proceedings or proceedings connected therewith.

If the FCC is satisfied that a prima facie case for the grant of relief has been made out, it will issue a rule nisi calling upon the person or persons against whom the order is sought to appear on a date specified and show cause why the relief prayed for should not be granted. The court may also direct that the person alleged to have been illegally or improperly detained be produced before it.

In disposing of any petition or rule under this order, the FCC may, at its discretion, make such order as to costs as it considers just and proper.

Applications for the enforcement of fundamental rights other than a petition for habeas corpus should be supported by an affidavit verifying the facts relied upon and stating whe­ther the applicant has approa­ch­­ed the concerned high court for the same relief and, if so, with what result.

An application will be fixed for hearing on a date allowing at least eight clear days between the service of the notice of motion and the date of hearing.

Under the rules, the FCC may, during the proceedings, impose costs or require the furnishing of security as it deems proper.

The rules also provide for the power to call for the record of any case or proceeding from any authority for the purpose of satisfying itself as to the legality of the action under scrutiny. All petitions under this order will be dealt with expeditiously and, as far as practicable, decided within a reasonable time.

The FCC can take cognisance of contempt of court on its own motion or on a petition.

Among other matters, the court can take cognisance of scandalising or prejudicial contempt where the alleged contempt consists of words, spoken or written, or acts or visible representations that tend to prejudice a party to any proceeding before the court; scandalise or tend to scandalise the court or any judge; or otherwise tend to bring the court or a judge into hatred, ridicule or contempt.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra passed the directions while hearing the case registered at Sangjani Police Station against the PTI leaders and other party workers.

During the hearing, the court accepted exemption-from-appearance applications filed by PTI leaders Shoaib Shaheen, Ali Bukhari and Ali Shah.

The court also sought details of the assets owned by Zartaj Gul and Omar Ayub as part of the proceedings against the two leaders.

It further initiated the process of declaring Sheikh Waqas Akram and Zain Qureshi proclaimed offenders after they failed to appear before the court.

The court adjourned further proceedings until October 31.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

The chief justice was hearing a contempt of court petition filed by a citizen, Muhammad Ismail, over alleged non-compliance with a 2024 court’s directive to decide his application within 30 days.

Following a court’s notice, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General Dr Usman Anwar appeared and explained that the application had been filed in 2024 and the NCCIA was subsequently established as a separate agency. He said the application in question related to the NCCIA.

“Tell me the date when the NCCIA came into existence,” the chief justice asked the FIA director general.

The chief justice observed that several such applications might have remained pending, including those filed by citizens who could not approach the courts. Dr Anwar said the agency had computerised its data and was working to clear pending applications, adding that the NCCIA had initially been established without its own building.

The DG said the petitioner’s complaint would be decided whenever he appeared. The chief justice remarked that the complainant should not be “managed” to have the petition withdrawn from the court.

Dr Anwar assured the court that this would not happen and that its orders would be complied with.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026

The complaint, addressed to the JCP secretary for placement before the chairperson and members, alleges that the law degree on the basis of which Bhoon entered the legal profession “may not be genuine and may be fake, bogus or otherwise incapable of lawful verification”. It asks the Commission to call for and independently verify the relevant original record.

The complaint does not explicitly use the words “recusal” or “suspension”; rather, it leaves the question of any interim arrangement to the Commission’s discretion.

The complaint requests verification of the institution from which Mr Bhoon claims to have obtained his qualifying law degree, along with the year of admission, period of study and date of graduation.

It also seeks verification of his original deg­rees, transcripts, result cards and registration records; independent confirmation from the degree-awarding institution; verification from the HEC; his complete enrolment record with the concerned provincial bar council and the PBC; and the dates and basis of his enrolment as an advocate.

Mr Bhoon has reportedly served a Rs5bn defamation notice on Mr Safdar.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026