logo
May 9 cases: ATCs step up hearings

May 9 cases: ATCs step up hearings

LAHORE: The Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs) in Lahore have stepped up the hearing of May 9 riot cases after directives from the Supreme Court to wind them up within four months.
The hearing of May 9 riot cases will now be heard four days a week, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The Lahore High Court registrar issued the new amended schedule of May 9 riot cases being conducted at Kot Lakhpat Jail.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Far-right leader Wilders quits Dutch coalition over immigration row
Far-right leader Wilders quits Dutch coalition over immigration row

Express Tribune

time16 hours ago

  • Express Tribune

Far-right leader Wilders quits Dutch coalition over immigration row

Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders speaks to the media following his decision to leave the governing coalition, in The Hague, Netherlands, June 3, 2025. PHOTO: REUTERS Listen to article The Dutch government collapsed on Tuesday, most likely ushering in a snap election, after anti-Muslim politician Geert Wilders quit the right-wing coalition, accusing other parties of failing to back his tougher immigration policies. But Prime Minister Dick Schoof, an independent, accused the political maverick of irresponsibility, and the other coalition parties denied failing to support Wilders, saying they had been awaiting proposals from his PVV party's own migration minister. PVV ministers will quit the cabinet, leaving the others to continue as a caretaker administration until an election unlikely to be held before October. Frustration with migration and the high cost of living is boosting the far right and widening divisions in Europe, just as it needs unity to deal effectively with a hostile Russia and an unpredictable and combative US president in the form of Donald Trump. "I have told party leaders repeatedly in recent days that the collapse of the cabinet would be unnecessary and irresponsible," Schoof said after an emergency cabinet meeting triggered by Wilders' decision. "We are facing major challenges both nationally and internationally that require decisiveness from us," he added, before handing his resignation to King Willem-Alexander. The prospect of a new election is likely to delay a decision on boosting defence spending and means the Netherlands will have only a caretaker government when it hosts a summit of the transatlantic NATO alliance this month. Election may months away Wilders said he had had no option but to quit the coalition. "I proposed a plan to close the borders for asylum seekers, to send them away, to shut asylum shelters. I demanded coalition partners sign up to that, which they didn't. That left me no choice but to withdraw my support for this government," he told reporters. "I signed up for the strictest asylum policies, not for the demise of the Netherlands." He said he would lead the PVV into a new election and hoped to be the next prime minister. An election is now likely at the end of October or in November, said political scientist Joep van Lit at Radboud University in Nijmegen. Even then, the fractured political landscape means formation of a new government may take months. It remains to be seen whether right-wing voters will see the turn of events as Wilders' failure to turn his proposals into reality, or rather decide that he needs a bigger mandate to get his way, van Lit said. Simon Otjes, assistant professor in Dutch politics at Leiden University, said the PVV must have calculated that the next election would be seen as a referendum on immigration policy, "because they know they would win that". Amsterdam resident Michelle ten Berge hoped that "with the new election we will choose ... a government that's more moderate". But florist Ron van den Hoogenband, in The Hague, said he expected Wilders to emerge the winner and take control of parliament "so he can do like Trump is doing and other European countries where the extreme right is taking over". Immigration a divisive issue Wilders won the last election in November 2023 with an unexpectedly high 23% of the vote. Opinion polls put his party at around 20% now, roughly on a par with the Labour/Green combination that is currently the second-largest grouping in parliament. Wilders had last week demanded immediate support for a 10-point plan that included closing the borders to asylum seekers, sending back refugees from Syria and shutting down asylum shelters. He also proposed expelling migrants convicted of serious crimes and boosting border controls. Migration has been a divisive issue in Dutch politics for years. The previous government, led by current NATO secretary general Mark Rutte, also collapsed after failing to reach a deal on restricting immigration. Wilders, a provocative politician who was convicted of discrimination against Moroccans in 2016, was not part of the latest government himself. He only managed to strike a coalition deal with three other conservative parties last year after agreeing not to become prime minister. Instead, the cabinet was led by the unelected Schoof, a career civil servant.

Mustafa Amir murder: Armughan's father granted bail in illegal arms case
Mustafa Amir murder: Armughan's father granted bail in illegal arms case

Express Tribune

time2 days ago

  • Express Tribune

Mustafa Amir murder: Armughan's father granted bail in illegal arms case

Listen to article A local court has granted bail to Kamran Asghar Qureshi, the father of Armughan, the main suspect in the Mustafa Aamir murder case, in an illegal arms case. The bail application was heard by the Additional District and Sessions Judge (South), who approved the bail against a surety bond of Rs100,000. During the hearing, defence counsel Khurram Awan argued that the case was baseless and registered solely because the accused is Armughan's father. He claimed that Kamran has been wrongfully implicated in multiple cases. The judge remarked that the accused should be released if not wanted in any other case. According to the prosecution, the Anti-Violent Crime Cell had booked Kamran Asghar Qureshi after recovering illegal weapons from his possession. A total of four FIRs have been lodged against him. Earlier, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Karachi had extended the physical remand of Armughan, the prime suspect in the Mustafa Amir murder case, for an additional seven days. The court directed the investigation officer to submit a progress report at the next hearing. Prosecutors argued that more time was required to recover a laptop and mobile phone, which they believe contain crucial evidence. Armughan's defence counsel opposed the request, claiming that police had completed their investigation and further remand was unnecessary. However, the court sided with the prosecution and approved the extension. During the hearing, the judge inquired whether the seized evidence had been properly sealed, to which the investigation officer confirmed compliance. The court also permitted Armughan's parents to meet him briefly. Moreover, according to a report, Armughan had allegedly confessed to the crime and explained the reasons behind Mustafa's murder. The report revealed that Armughan ran a call centre at a bungalow in Defence Housing Authority's Khayaban-e-Momin area, where 30 to 40 boys and girls worked, along with 30 to 35 security guards stationed at the premises. The bungalow had allegedly housed three lion cubs illegally. An interrogation report also shed light on Armughan's involvement in business and drug use. Before Mustafa's murder, Armughan, along with his friend Shiraz, planned to burn Mustafa's car and had previously intended to harm him. The report revealed that in 2019, Armughan was involved in a case regarding drug import, but he secured bail in that matter. According to the investigation, Armughan himself was a drug user. On New Year's Eve, Armughan hosted a party at the bungalow, where Shiraz was also present until 3 am. However, Mustafa did not attend the party. The following day, Armughan and Mustafa had a personal dispute, which escalated into a violent confrontation. On January 6, Armughan invited Shiraz to the bungalow to take drugs together, and Mustafa arrived at around 9 pm. During this encounter, Armughan assaulted Mustafa with an iron rod. Armughan and Shiraz stripped Mustafa of his clothes, bound his hands and feet with a white sheet, and dragged him down the stairs. Mustafa's car was parked in the bungalow's parking lot, and they placed his body in the trunk of the car, after which they took him to Hub. The report further details that Armughan instructed two employees to clean blood stains from the room. Armughan also took Mustafa's clothes, mobile phone, and internet device. When they could not find fuel in the car, Armughan took a fuel can from the bungalow. The report explains that Armughan discarded Mustafa's mobile phone and other belongings on the way. They arrived in Hub around 4:30 am, poured petrol on the car, and set it on fire. Armughan and Shiraz then walked to a hotel for breakfast. A hotel employee noticed a weapon, and the two men fled the scene. After walking for several hours and hitching rides, they made their way back to Karachi.

Punjab home department urges public not to donate eid hides to banned organisations
Punjab home department urges public not to donate eid hides to banned organisations

Express Tribune

time2 days ago

  • Express Tribune

Punjab home department urges public not to donate eid hides to banned organisations

Children delight in the company of a sacrificial animal in Islamabad on the eve of Eidul Azha. PHOTO: ZAFAR RAJA/EXPRESS Listen to article Punjab Home Department has issued a strong advisory urging citizens not to donate sacrificial animal hides to banned organisations or their affiliates ahead of Eidul Azha. The department has released a list of over 70 proscribed groups and stressed that aiding them—financially or materially—is a punishable offence under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. 'Assisting entities involved in terrorism or anti-state activities is not only a threat to national security but can also result in legal consequences for individuals,' the spokesperson warned. Citizens have been instructed to donate hides only to charities registered with the Punjab Charity Commission. Verification can be done using QR codes found on official certificates issued to authorised organisations. Seminaries and welfare institutions seeking to collect hides must obtain a valid no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Deputy Commissioner's office. Only groups with legitimate permits issued by either the DC or the Charity Commission are permitted to operate. Among the banned groups named are Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Sipah-e-Muhammad, Jaish-e-Muhammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Al-Qaeda, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Jamaat-ud-Dawa, Daesh (ISIS), Hizb-ut-Tahrir, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM), Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation, Al-Akhtar Trust, Al-Rasheed Trust, Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) and others. Read: Govt to present 2025-26 budget after Eidul Adha The department has called on parents, mosque administrators, seminaries, and NGOs to remain vigilant and help safeguard national interests. Citizens are advised to report any suspicious hide collection by banned groups via the police emergency number 15. Official lists of registered charities can be accessed through the Punjab Home Department, Punjab Charity Commission, and NACTA websites. The federal government has declared a four-day public holiday for Eidul Azha, scheduled to begin on Friday, June 6, and will extend through to Monday, June 9. According to Express News, all government and private offices, educational institutions, and banks across the country will remain closed during the holidays. The decision is in line with the celebration of Eidul Azha, which is a major religious festival in Pakistan. The announcement was preceded by sighting of moon on May 27 by Ruet-e-Hilal Committee. Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad said that the first day of Eidul Azha will be celebrated across Pakistan on June 7.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store