Overview
- Pakistan has shut key transit routes with Afghanistan, and Pakistani media report stranded trucks, spoiled perishables and tens of millions of dollars in Afghan losses as officials describe the move as a security and anti‑smuggling measure.
- Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz orders stricter oversight of municipal cleanliness and services, warning of penalties for poor performance, secret monitoring teams, and sanctions against underperforming contractors.
- Punjab’s police chief details a by‑election security plan with forces deployed to thousands of polling stations, zero tolerance for violations of the code of conduct, Section 144 and weapons bans, and CCTV at highly sensitive sites.
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa approves establishing the Special Branch as a separate specialized unit, creating 1,221 posts and funding vehicles, facilities and technology to strengthen intelligence and counterterrorism capabilities.
- The Lahore High Court rules that acquittals, discharges or canceled cases must not appear on police certificates and orders the police to issue a corrected certificate within 10 days in a petitioner’s case.