Overview
- Police in Khanpur arrested SHO Rana Muhammad Ramzan and SI Muhammad Imran after an inquiry found they took a 900,000-rupee bribe to release Afghan detainee Mohammad Farooq, with a criminal case registered.
- A powerful blast leveled an allegedly illegal fireworks site in Hyderabad’s Latifabad, causing confirmed fatalities and severe injuries as rescuers continued searches and locals alleged prior complaints went unheeded.
- Separately in Kotli, Azad Kashmir, an explosion at a scrap shop killed three people and injured four, with police and rescue officials launching an investigation.
- King Abdullah II visited Pakistan’s GIDS facilities, observed field drills and later met President Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad, where the two sides highlighted defence ties and exchanged top state honours.
- Lahore authorities reported a 24-hour ‘mega’ anti-encroachment drive that cleared 886 violations and removed 3,215 banners, while Punjab opened five new double‑storey barracks at Kot Lakhpat jail to add capacity for 2,000 inmates.