In his message on the occasion of World Tourism Day 2026, President Zardari welcomed international visitors to explore Pakistan’s diverse landscapes, highlighting a forward-looking vision that blends modern connectivity with traditional values of hospitality.

“We have to develop a tourism sector that embraces innovation while remaining rooted in our values of hospitality, respect and responsibility,” President Zardari said.

Says digital technology is reshaping how people plan and experience travel

This year’s theme, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism”, draws attention to the changes that technology and artificial intelligence are bringing to the way people plan their journeys, discover destinations and experience different cultures.

“We must ensure that these changes remain responsible, inclusive and beneficial to people and communities,” Mr Zardari said.

“Pakistan has a remarkable diversity of landscapes and experiences, from the mountains of the north and the ancient civilisations of the Indus Valley to our Islamic and Gandhara heritage, cities, deserts and coastal areas. Our greatest strength, however, remains the warmth and hospitality of our people,” he said.

According to the president, tourism can create livelihoods, support local businesses and open opportunities for young people and women. It can also bring economic activity to communities across the country.

“At the same time, we must protect our natural environment, cultural heritage and traditions for future generations,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2026

For example, both the American and Iranian delegations held talks mediated by Qatar, while the Iranian president told Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that Tehran was still committed to the Islamabad MoU. Moreover, other reports indicate that both the US and Iran are looking for an off-ramp, with Tehran offering to open the Strait of Hormuz for marine traffic if Washington ends its blockade of Iran. The key question is: who will blink first in this battle of wits, as neither side will want to appear weak? Now it is up to both sides — as well as the states mediating this conflict — to take forward the progress made in New York.

As the US, along with Israel, initiated this aggression, it should take the first step and offer confidence-building measures to Iran in order to de-escalate the situation and come to a long-term settlement. Though White House officials have said Iran is ‘desperate’ for a deal, the fact is that high fuel prices are also hurting the Trump administration at home. An unpopular war coupled with high inflation is not likely to have a positive effect on the Republicans’ chances going into November’s midterm elections. In a meeting on the UNGA sidelines, Mr Trump’s Gulf allies reportedly asked him for a post-midterm strategy regarding Iran. Perhaps something can come out of the interactions at the UN. However, the talks must not be a ruse to open Hormuz and to merely suspend hostilities and stabilise oil prices until the US midterms. There are some indications that the Trump administration may be considering kinetic action after the elections. It would mean a disastrous new confrontation in the Middle East. Hopefully, wiser counsel will prevail in Washington.

The way forward seems simple. The US must approach Iran with sincerity, and the talks must not be a smokescreen for further military action later. The blockade of Iran should be lifted and its funds released to enable a longer-term peace. Tehran, on its part, should commit to keeping Hormuz open in the interest of both its neighbours and the wider international community, while also refraining from targeting the Gulf states. Also, any new agreement should cover all fronts: Gaza, Lebanon and Yemen. Although these are separate conflicts, they are also interlinked as Iranian allies are involved in all of them fighting Israel, the US and Saudi Arabia. Hence, a peace treaty with Iran alone may not last unless there is also calm in other regional theatres, while there is a particular need to rein in Israel’s murderous attacks on regional states.

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2026

Speaking at a ceremony held here on Saturday, he made it clear that the scooters were for women only and that action would be taken against any man seen using a pink scooter.

He said Sindh was the only province in the country that is providing free e-scooters to women.

“After providing training to women, e-scooters are being provided to those who pass the test,” he said, adding: “Our women are playing their full role in every field of life, and the Pakistan Peo­ples Party will continue such measures for the empowerment of women.”

He said that pink taxis for women will also be launched soon.

Mr Memon, who also holds the portfolios of information, transport and mass transit, said: “I do not know who the women coming here today are as the government is distributing pink scooters without discrimination and without distinction.”

“The number of driving licences for women was previously very low; however, it is now increasing rapidly. I want to make it clear that this process of providing pink scooters to women is not going to stop. We want 50,000 women who obtain driving licences to be provided with EV scooters,” he said.

He said empowering women was a reflection of the vision of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who launched Lady Health Workers, First Women Bank and other important projects for the empowerment of women. “Earlier, women in Sindh were not as independent as they are today. After the martyrdom of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, President Asif Ali Zardari launched the Benazir Income Support Programme for deserving women, under which identity cards were made for many women, and consequently the number of voters also increased,” he said.

“Today our women leaders, including Faryal Tal­pur, Dr Azra Fazal Pech­uho, Nafeesa Shah, Shazia Marri and others, are present in the assemblies on general seats. Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Presi­dent Zardari have issued special instructions for the empowerment of women,” he said.

He said that Hari Cards were being issued for farmers and Labour Cards for workers. “Sindh is at the forefront in the fields of health and education, including Thar coal.”

Provincial Minister for Culture Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Imdad Pitafi, Qasim Siraj Soomro, among others, were also present at the ceremony.

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2026

The then SHOs of Shah Latif Town and Sachal police, Amanullah Marwat and Shaikh Muhammad Shoaib alias Shooter; assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Gada Hussain; head constables Sadaqat Ali and Mohsin Abbasi; and constables Raja Shamim and Rana Riaz Ahmed were facing trial for allegedly killing Naseemullah, better known as Naqeebullah Mehsud, Mohammad Sabir, Nazar Jan and Mohammad Ishaq in an alleged staged encounter in January 2018.

After examining the witnesses and hearing concluding arguments from both sides, the judge of ATC-VI exonerated the accused persons for lack of evidence.

Prosecutor Anila Malik argued that the prosecution examined over 40 witnesses, including star witnesses and they linked the accused persons with the commission of offences and documentary evidence also corroborated their testimonies.

Former SSP Rao Anwar was acquitted in the same case in 2023

She also contended that the prosecution established its case against all the accused persons beyond a shadow of reasonable doubt and pleaded for conviction.

However, defence lawyer Farzana Mateen submitted that all accused persons facing trial were framed with mala fide intention and that out of 40, not a single witness directly implicated any of the accused in the case.

She also maintained that there were glaring contradictions in the evidence of prosecution witnesses while two star witnesses about the abduction of Hazrat Ali and Muhammad Qasim did not associate the present accused persons in their statements recorded under Section 164 CrPC by a judicial magistrate and had also not identified these accused persons as the culprits during their evidence before the trial court.

The defence lawyer further argued that there was no allegation of abduction of the deceased against the accused persons and the prosecution has also failed to prove their participation in the alleged encounter.

She maintained that many accused persons, including a former senior superintendent of police, had already been exonerated by the trial court in the first round of litigation for want of evidence and she pleaded for acquittal of the present accused persons as well.

Initially, the then SSP Malir Rao Anwar, along with his around two dozen subordinates, had been booked for allegedly murdering Naqeebullah and others in an alleged staged encounter in a Malir locality and dubbing them as militants.

According to the prosecution, Naqeebullah was picked up with his two friends allegedly by eight to nine subordinates of Rao Anwar in civvies. Later, the other two detainees were set free while the whereabouts of Mehsud remained unknown and his mobile phone was also found powered off, as the former SSP allegedly kept him in wrongful detention.

It further stated that on Jan 17, the captive’s relatives came to know through the media that Rao Anwar and his associates allegedly killed Mehsud and three others in a staged encounter in a Shah Latif Town area on Jan 13 and dubbed them as Taliban militants.

The provincial police officer had constituted a three-member inquiry committee that found Rao Anwar and his associates involved in the case, it added.

However, in January 2023, the trial court acquitted the former SSP and 17 members of his team by extending the benefit of doubt. As the state had opted not to impugn the acquittal order, a brother of Naqeeb had filed an appeal before the Sindh High Court against their acquittal.

The present accused persons were absconders during the first trial, and after the exoneration of SSP and others, they had surrendered before the court to face the trial, and all of them were set free on bail in April this year.

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2026

According to FIA and court records, Judge of the Special Court (Central), Rawalpindi, Abdul Rehman Muhammad Arif, pronounced the judgement on Sept 23 in a 2024 case registered under Sections 34/420 /468/471/109 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), read with Sections 18/22 of the Emigration Ordinance (EO) 1979 and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) 1947.

The case pertained to 92 nurses who were sent to Saudi Arabia on fake experience certificates and deported within a month. The FIA said progress in the high-profile case was regularly shared with the PM Office.

Accomplice awarded three years rigorous imprisonment

According to the warrant of conviction, key agent Ghulam Zulfiqar Ali alias Mian Zulfiqar, son of Din Muhammad, was sentenced to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment (RI) and a Rs100,000 fine, with two months’ further RI in default under Section 420 of PPC; seven years’ RI and a Rs100,000 fine, with two months’ further RI in default under Section 468; seven years’ RI and a Rs100,000 fine, with two months’ further RI in default under Section 471 of PPC; 10 years’ RI and a Rs200,000 fine, with three months’ further RI in default under Section 18 of the Emigration Ordinance 1979; and 10 years’ RI and a Rs200,000 fine, with three months’ further RI in default under Section 22 of the Emigration Ordinance 1979.

The total concurrent sentence comes to 41 years, as stated in the FIA infographic. The court further ordered, under Section 544-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, that convict Zulfiqar Ali pay Rs9.2 million as compensation to the nurses, at Rs100,000 per victim. The amount shall be recovered as arrears of land revenue and, in case of default, the convict shall undergo a further six months’ simple imprisonment. The amount is to be deposited with the FIA Islamabad zone director for disbursement among all 92 victim nurses.

The second convict, Ghulam Fareed, son of Muhammad Sadiq, was sentenced to three years’ RI and a Rs200,000 fine under Section 18 of the Emigration Ordinance 1979. However, he was acquitted of charges under Section 22 of the EO, read with Sections 420, 468 and 471 of PPC, by giving him the benefit of the doubt.

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2026