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PUNJAB ORDERS POLICE TO TREAT ACCUSED IN FOREIGN WOMEN GANGRAPE, KIDNAPPING CASE ‘ON MERIT’: DIG Monday, 6 July, 2026 | 20 Muharram, 1448
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DIG OPERATIONS KAMRAN SAYS NO SPECIAL TREATMENT GIVEN TO SUSPECT ALLEGEDLY LINKED TO ‘SENIOR POLITICAL FIGURE’
FIFTH SUSPECT ARRESTED AS INVESTIGATORS AWAIT FORENSIC AND DNA REPORTS TO STRENGTHEN PROSECUTION
CM MARYAM DIRECTS ‘100PC MERIT’ AS POLICE PROBE POSSIBILITY OF ORGANISED CRIMINAL GANG
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LAHORE
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ISLAMABAD
The government has agreed to revise the proposed Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) (Amendment) Bill to make the consent of property owners mandatory before any telecommunications infrastructure can be installed on private land, with a committee constituted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif unanimously endorsing the changes after concerns raised by coalition partners and the opposition. The prime minister had constituted the committee following strong criticism of the proposed amendments by both government allies and opposition lawmakers, who called for a comprehensive review of the bill and revisions to its contentious provisions. Addressing a joint press conference in Islamabad alongside Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the revised draft
PM vows unwavering support for armed forces
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Kamran said that once the possible family connection surfaced, investigators verified the information through the family, obtained the suspect's contact number and began tracing his whereabouts. "As soon as this was flagged, we had to confirm the information, and we confirmed it from the family; we got the number (of the suspect) from them and began tracing his location," he said. "The family definitely would have told him to surrender," the police official added. Kamran said he immediately informed the senior police command and the government about the suspect's reported links to a high-profile political figure.
of The Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) (Amendment) Bill now explicitly requires the consent of a property owner before any right-of-way can be granted over private land. He said the amended draft also provides clearer definitions of key terms, including right-of-way, above-ground and underground infrastructure, and the installation of telecommunications equipment to eliminate ambiguity. Explaining the revisions, the law minister said the earlier draft had referred to "mutual consent", but the new version makes such consent an explicit legal requirement. "Initially, it only stated that negotiations would take place. Now we have made it clear that if access is required through any private property — whether a house, shop, vacant plot or agricultural land — the owner's permission must first be obtained. It is now a precondition," he said. Tarar said that if the two parties failed to agree on the terms and conditions, they could approach the rel-
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with its armed forces against all internal and external threats, as the country grapples with a surge in militant violence and continued tensions with arch-rival India, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). “The prime minister reaffirmed the government’s and the people of Pakistan’s unwavering resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with the country’s armed forces against any external or internal threat facing the nation,” the PMO said in a statement. The prime minister’s remarks came as the nation observed the 27th martyrdom anniversary of Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed (Nishan-e-Haider), who embraced martyrdom during the 1999 Kargil conflict with India.
DIG SAYS VICTIMS ESCAPED AFTER CAR CRASH, CONTACTED POLICE THROUGH WHATSAPP CONFERENCE CALL
Police arrest suspect within hours after PAF officer shot dead 'trying to protect woman'
"We received strict orders from the government to treat him no differently than any other criminal," he said, adding that the investigation also indicated the possibility that a criminal gang, rather than a lone individual, was involved in the incident. The DIG said Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had also directed that the suspects be dealt with on "100 per cent merit." He recalled that police conducted raids in Sargodha, Shahdara and DHA, drawing increasing public attention to the investigation. According to Kamran, the suspect later told the women he was taking them to the airport after claiming he had received the ransom.
Govt makes landowners’ consent mandatory in telecom bill overhaul STAFF REPORT
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APOLOGISES OVER SHO’S ENTRY INTO MAGISTRATE’S RESIDENCE, SAYS LEGAL URGENCY PROMPTED ACTION
SALEEM JADOON
OLICE investigating the alleged abduction, gang rape and extortion of two foreign women in Lahore on Sunday said the prime suspect, reportedly linked to a senior government figure, was ordered to be treated "like any other criminal", while authorities arrested a fifth suspect and said the case would proceed strictly on merit on the basis of forensic and DNA evidence. Addressing a press conference, Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Faisal Kamran recounted the sequence of events that led to the recovery of the two foreign women and the arrest of the suspects. He said police launched simultaneous raids in Sargodha and several other locations to trace the victims. During the operation, investigators obtained the family tree of one of the suspects and, after speaking to residents of a raided house, learned that the suspect's family had previously lived there as tenants and was believed to be related to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar. The police officer identified the suspect as Muhammad Raza Dar. On Thursday, police registered a case against five suspects over the alleged abduction and sexual assault after the two foreign women were rescued. Four suspects, including a close relative of a senior political personality, were arrested and later remanded into police custody for five days.
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVII No 101 | 8 Pages | Islamabad Edition
evant authority. However, he stressed that since the arrangement would be based on mutual consent and the free will of both parties, the usual enforcement mechanisms would not apply at that stage. He added that once an agreement had been concluded and the agreed consideration paid, neither party could unilaterally withdraw from the contract. "If the terms and conditions have been settled, payment has been made, and all matters agreed upon, one party cannot later decide not to continue with the agreement. In such cases, the appropriate authority will deal with the matter," he said. The minister said that if an operator failed to make agreed payments, the authority would issue the necessary directions. Likewise, if a property owner, after voluntarily entering into an agreement and receiving payment, attempted to obstruct or terminate the arrangement during the contract period, the matter would also be addressed under the law.
US reaffirms enduring partnership with Pakistan on 250th Independence anniversary ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, US Chargé d'Affaires Natalie Baker on Sunday reaffirmed Washington's commitment to deepening its partnership with Pakistan, saying the United States remained dedicated to building a relationship that "delivers lasting security and shared opportunity for generations to come." "America's 250th anniversary is a moment of renewal. It is a chance to strengthen our institutions, reaffirm our leadership, and build partnerships rooted in mutual respect and reciprocity. With Pakistan, we are building on sovereignty, strength, and shared prosperity, translating mutual respect and aligned interests into real results," Baker said in a statement issued by the US Embassy in Islamabad.
She added: "As we step into this next chapter, America moves forward with confidence in our values and a clear sense of purpose, committed to a partnership that delivers lasting security and shared opportunity for generations to come." The United States is commemorating the 250th anniversary of its independence, with celebrations also being observed in Pakistan, where several prominent landmarks have been illuminated as part of the anniversary events. According to the statement, the US Embassy in Islamabad and the US Consulate General in Lahore illuminated iconic landmarks in the colours of the American flag to mark the historic milestone, while expressing appreciation to the Government of Pakistan for supporting the commemorative celebrations.
Islamabad Police on Sunday arrested the suspect accused of fatally shooting a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officer who was trying to protect a woman during an altercation in the federal capital, with the city's police chief saying the accused was tracked down within nine hours through an extensive operation combining digital surveillance and conventional investigative methods. The shooting took place near Shaheen Chowk on Islamabad's busy 9th Avenue, close to several government offices and the PAF Headquarters, according to Islamabad Police spokesman Muhammad Taqi Jawad. The slain officer, Group Captain Asim Tariq, had just left his office when he noticed a man arguing with a woman and stepped in to intervene. The suspect, identified as Saad Abbasi, allegedly opened fire on the officer before fleeing the scene. Group Captain Tariq later succumbed to his injuries. Addressing the media, Inspector Gen-
However, when the vehicle turned towards Bhatta Chowk, the women became suspicious. The DIG said the car subsequently collided with another vehicle, allowing the women to escape and seek refuge in a nearby shop.
eral of Police (IGP) Ali Nasir Rizvi said the suspect was attempting to forcibly take the woman with him, but she repeatedly resisted, prompting the PAF officer to intervene in an effort to protect her. "Eleven teams were constituted and those teams were for different things. There was a digital surveillance team, there was a cellular technology team, there was a private camera team, there was a Safe City camera team, there were teams that had to read our manuals. In addition to that, there were also teams that went to different districts or places and picked up as many different people as they could," he said. "At the same time, it was necessary to blend it with technical data, which is our traditional approach to policing, in such a way that this case can be traced out... we have seen [footage of] 275 Safe City cameras in Islamabad and Rawalpindi and hundreds of private cameras. After this incident, this case was traced in nine hours," he added.
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During the incident, one of the women remained in contact with her father through WhatsApp messages and voice calls.
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