The 39-year-old Serbian was struggling physically but pushed through the second-set decider for his first win at any event since Wimbledon in July.

“It’s a great pleasure to be back in my happy place,” Djokovic said after the match, adding that the conditions and atmosphere in Beijing suit his game.

“Obviously I’m a completely different person and player than I was 11 years ago when I played here last but thankfully I kept the streak going and hopefully I can do it again,” he said.

The former world number one is set to meet wildcard Bu Yunchaokete of China in the second round.

Fans packed the stands in Beijing to watch Djokovic, a firm favourite in China who has never lost in Beijing in 30 matches — although this was his first match at the event since 2015.

He delighted the crowd with an ace to end the first game and saved two break points after a pair of double-faults to win the first set.

Djokovic has had health issues in recent months and struggled to pick up points at the start of the second set, using his racquet to stretch his back between games and needing a medical timeout as a trainer worked on his right shoulder.

But he forced a path to victory in one hour and 50 minutes, clinching it when Borges, the world number 49 from Portugal, returned into the net.

It preserved Djokovic’s winning streak in Beijing, where he has won six titles.

Earlier, Karen Khachanov swept aside second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-3 in their first-round meeting.

Khachanov, the world number 26, won three straight games, taking the first set in 31 minutes.

The 30-year-old then kept his cool to break Auger-Aliassime on the first match point, wrapping things up in one hour and 11 minutes.

He faces either Arthur Rinderknech of France or qualifier Alex Molcan of Slovakia in the round of 16.

Khachanov brushed off suggestions he had Auger-Aliassime’s card marked following his second statement win over the Canadian world number five in a matter of weeks.

“It was a tough match,” the Russian, who triumphed at the US Open, said. “When you approach this match you are thinking it’s a completely new match, completely different. In China, in Beijing. Different court, different balls.

“You just focus again from zero. You know that what you did well... and you just try to keep the momentum going. There is not much secret about it.”

World number two Alexander Zverev, fresh off a US Open win and the top seed in Beijing, was scheduled to start his bid against Cameron Norrie in the first round on Thursday.

While the battle for world number one has been on his mind, the 29-year-old German told reporters Wednesday his focus was still to “do everything I can to prepare myself to play good tennis”.

“Everything else will fall into place,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

The visiting delegates, including India’s Additional Secretary and SCO national coordinator, also inspected the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium at the Pakistan Sports Complex.

The government and PHF jointly extended the invitation for the proposed SCO Hockey Championship, aimed at fostering sporting cooperation and people-to-people contacts among member states.

The PHF has asked the national coordinators to confirm participation of their respective teams by October 10.

Wani apprised the delegates of reforms under way to rebuild the national hockey structure and restore Pakistan’s standing on the international stage.

The coordinators welcomed the proposal, expressing interest and describing the initiative as a valuable platform for regional sporting interaction. Further consultations on technical and organisational details are expected in the coming weeks.

The visit formed part of the SCO Council of National Coordinators meeting under Pakistan’s chairmanship for 2026-27.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

Ghana led by two goals before conceding twice in each half in Accra to lose 4-2 against Gambia, two of whose goals came from Ebrima Colley in Group ‘C’.

Nigeria were behind after 15 minutes away to Guinea-Bissau in Group ‘L’ and finished humiliating 3-0 losers to a nation 106 places lower in the world rankings.

Cape Verde held eventual champions Spain in their World Cup debut and took Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina to extra time in the round-of-32 before bowing out.

But after being outplayed in Mali last week in Group ‘K’, they surrendered a lead at home to Rwanda and lost 2-1 against opponents whose sole AFCON finals appearance came 22 years ago.

Algeria, twice winners of the premier African national team competition, trailed by two goals in Burundi before clawing back to force a 2-2 Group ‘I’ draw.

In matchday two qualifiers that produced more predictable results, Morocco, Senegal and Egypt won away to Lesotho, Ethiopia and South Sudan, respectively.

Morocco won 2-0, Senegal 1-0 and Egypt cruised to a 5-0 victory despite the absence of captain and star forward Mohamed Salah.

Egypt opted to rest Salah, fearing the artificial surface in Juba would heighten the risk of the Turkey-based star being injured.

Ghana failed to qualify for the last AFCON, and they lie last in Group C after also losing their opening match, away to the Ivory Coast.

REVELATION

After struggling to defeat minnows Somalia last week, Gambia were a revelation with Mohamed Badamosi and Omar Colley drawing the Scorpions level by half-time.

Ebrima Colley struck twice in the second half, leaving the Carlos Queiroz-coached Black Stars in trouble ahead of two November clashes with Somalia.

After an unimpressive home win over Mada­gascar, a Nigerian team lacking injured star Victor Osimhen were outplayed by Guinea-Bissau.

Franculino Dju bent a shot into the far corner after 15 minutes. Mama Balde raced through to score on 66 minutes with a shot that entered the net off the far post.

Nigeria were woeful as they tried to recover. A corner was overhit and went wide and a free-kick just outside the area was struck tamely into a defensive wall.

Substitute Alvaro Djalo completed the rout five minutes into added time. As he advanced, Nigerian defenders retreated until he placed a low shot wide of goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.

Cape Verde, who missed the last AFCON before finishing above Cameroon to reach the World Cup, led Rwanda in Praia through Benchimol.

Rwanda levelled in first-half added time through Claude Niyom­ugabo, and Elie Tatou netted seven minutes after the break to maintain their 100 per cent record.

Senegal winning in Ethiopia via an Ibrahim Mbaye goal gave France 1998 World Cup winner Patrick Vieira his first victory since debuting as coach last week with a draw in Mozambique.

Ivory Coast left it late in Ghana to win 2-0 in Group ‘C’ against Somalia, who had to forfeit home advantage for security reasons and are ranked 168 places below the 2024 champions.

Coventry City striker Yann Gboho came off the bench to score on 89 minutes and Newcastle United midfielder Baz­oumana Toure added a second goal deep in added time.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

Babar, batting at number four for Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) after the side elected to bat against State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), faced 39 balls and hit four boundaries before being trapped leg before wicket by Afaq Afridi.

OGDCL were bowled out for 196 in 50 overs, with Saad Khan (38), Niaz Khan (28) and Mohammad Hammad Khan (26) making useful contributions. Shahid Aziz took 4-31 for SBP, while off-spinner Mubasir Khan claimed 3-24.

As Babar made his way off the field, several spectators entered the playing area seeking photographs and selfies. The situation quickly became crowded, prompting ground staff to intervene and escort the batter to the dugout.

Dawn understands that concerns over player security have been raised with the Pakistan Cricket Board following the incident.

The match is expected to be Babar’s last appearance in the President’s Trophy. The 31-year-old returned to domestic first-class cricket this month after nearly seven years but has struggled for runs, scoring 12 and four in his previous outing against Khan Research Laboratories (KRL).

In reply, SBP reached 94-3 in 28 overs, with Hasan Raza unbeaten on 52 and captain Ghazi Ghori on 30, leaving the side 102 runs behind.

Elsewhere, batters dominated on the opening day at three other venues.

At the Imran Khan Stadium in Peshawar, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited recovered from 98-3 to reach 277-3 against Pakistan Television. Azan Awais was unbeaten on 130 off 249 balls, his 12th first-class century, and shared an unbroken 179-run stand with Omair Bin Yousuf, who was 82 not out.

Mohammad Shahzad took three early wickets for PTV.

At the National Ground in Islamabad, Kingsmen Academy piled up 430-3 in 90 overs against KRL. Mohammad Suleman was unbeaten on 122, his seventh first-class century, while Salman Ali Agha was 106 not out, his 19th century. Earlier, captain Mohammad Tayyab Arif scored 98 and Saud Shakeel made 62.

In Abbottabad, Ghani Glass bowled out Markhor IT Solutions (MIT) for 150 in 32.1 overs, with Test fast bowler Khurram Shahzad taking 6-38. It was his 17th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.

Shadab Khan took 3-27.

Ghani Glass reached 191-4 in reply, with captain Mohsin Riaz unbeaten on 69.

At stumps, SBP trailed OGDCL by 102 runs with seven wickets in hand, while Ghani Glass led MIT by 41 runs with six wickets remaining. The other two matches remained firmly in the balance after strong batting displays on the opening day.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

The match at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan was Spain’s first home outing since lifting the World Cup in New York in July.

La Roja captain Rodri was handed the trophy by 2010 winner and Sevilla legend Jesus Navas, before presenting it to the ecstatic crowd.

“We were very excited to bring the trophy here,” Yamal said. “To be able to win the game and bring it home is great.”

Spain’s supporters did not have long to wait before their side provided further excitement in Andalusia as Yamal fired them into the lead inside 75 seconds.

Dion Beljo nodded in Ivan Perisic’s cross to briefly level the scores shortly before the half-hour, but Atletico defender Marc Pubill popped up at the other end three minutes later to head in a Yamal centre and restore the hosts’ lead.

After also scoring early in Spain’s 3-2 win at Wembley against England last week to kickstart their Nations League campaign, Yamal brought his tally in the 2026/27 edition of the tournament to three as he put Spain two clear of Croatia in the 63rd minute with a precise finish at Dominik Livakovic’s near post.

“Lamine is keen to keep developing and show the world the sort of footballer he is,” Luis de la Fuente said of the 19-year-old star.

“We’ve enjoyed his magic in the service of the team. In the future, he’ll be much more recognised for what he does and for his contribution to the team’s play,” the coach added of Yamal, who is among the frontrunners for the Ballon d’Or.

Nico Williams then put gloss on the result for Spain with a crisp step-over and finish with one minute remaining on the clock.

With two wins from two, Spain lead Group A3 on six points, while Croatia sit third on three points, behind second-placed England on goal difference.‘Deserved victory’

In Prague, Thomas Tuchel’s England got their first win of the group with a 2-0 victory over a 10-man Czech Republic thanks to second-half goals from Anthony Gordon and Kane.

The home team kept England at bay in the first half at the Fortuna Arena despite being a man down after Pavel Sulc was sent off for a high challenge on Elliot Anderson in the 23rd minute.

“We played very professional, second half we stepped up… Deserved victory,” Tuchel told ITV. “Strange to get an early red card, not the best for the team and spectators. It’s an awkward one, but we kept going, got a win, and that’s what counts.”

Barcelona winger Gordon broke the deadlock shortly after the break with a header from a cross served by Trent Alexander-Arnold, who made his first England start in almost two years.

It was Gordon’s third goal in three games for England, including one against Argentina in the World Cup semi-final defeat and another against Spain.

Kane, who also scored against Spain, gave England breathing space in the 69th minute, smashing the ball past Czech ’keeper Matej Kovar after it fell to him inside the box.

England will travel to Rijeka to take on Croatia on Saturday, while Spain welcome the Czechs to Oviedo.

“The next match is important for us against a direct opponent, and we want to win,” Tuchel said to the BBC.

Elsewhere, Scotland paid for an early red card at Hampden Park against Switzerland as the visitors ran out 3-0 winners in Group B1.

Slovenia sit second in that pool after downing North Macedonia 2-0 in Ljubljana.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

Numerous leading European national associations have withdrawn their support for Infantino after he caused uproar in July with proposals to create a commercial subsidiary to run its biggest events, such as the World Cup and Club World Cup.

The SFV’s decision carries weight as Infantino is Swiss, and both FIFA and European football’s governing body UEFA are based in Switzerland.

The SFV said that its executive board met on Friday and “decided to withdraw the support it had declared in June 2026 for Infantino’s candidacy for a further term as FIFA president”.

Infantino’s plan would have allowed private investors to acquire stakes in a company created under the FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative. The backlash that followed led to the proposals being quickly shelved. SFV president Peter Knabel said that Swiss football’s governing body expected FIFA’s leadership to uphold the highest standards of transparency, accountability and institutional responsibility.

“Key questions regarding the background, responsibilities and decision-making processes remain unanswered. As these have not been convincingly clarified, we cannot justify continuing to support Gianni Infantino’s candidacy,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

“There was no incident whatsoever,” Jesus told his press conference ahead of Thursday’s Nations League match against Denmark in Copenhagen.

Following Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway on Sunday in Oslo, Ronaldo went straight to the changing rooms without joining his team-mates in going over to greet the Portuguese supporters in the stands.

“Any player — and I was a player myself... when you spend 20 or 30 minutes warming up and then don’t get on... no one is happy about that,” Jesus said on Wednesday.

The Portuguese coach added that he had told Ronaldo before the match that he would not be in the starting line-up, but that he might bring him on towards the end of the game.

“Afterwards, as coach, I decided not to bring him on. It’s nothing to make a fuss about,” Jesus insisted.

The former Benfica boss also explained that Ronaldo had not refused to train on Tuesday, as some Portuguese media outlets had suggested, but that he had had to do individual exercises for physical “mobility” and “strengthening”.

Jesus also revealed that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner would train as normal on Thursday, but that for the Denmark match he intended to start AC Milan striker Goncalo Ramos, who scored the winner against the Norwegians.

“If everything goes according to plan, it will be Goncalo who plays,” he said, before adding regarding Ronaldo: “If I need him, he’ll come on. If I don’t need him, he won’t.”

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

The former boss broke his silence 24 hours after it was announced that the Abu Dhabi-backed club had been found guilty of more than 100 breaches of financial rules in the world’s richest domestic league.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters described the disciplinary case and the decision by an independent commission as the “most significant in Premier League history”.

He said City “systematically broke Premier League rules for nearly a decade”, adding that the league was committed to a swift resolution.

The likely punishment is uncertain but, according to Premier League rules, City could face a substantial points deduction, a fine or even expulsion from the top division.

The 10-time English champions, who continue to deny any wrongdoing, have vowed to appeal and have until Friday to do so.

Guardiola, who was a vocal supporter of the club over the issue before leaving the Etihad in May, broke his silence in a post on X.

“I want every single @ManCity fan to know I am here, more than ever,” said the Spaniard, who won six Premier League titles and the Champions League in a golden decade at the helm.

“I am, always have been, always will be, behind my club, my owner, my chairman, (CEO) Ferran (Soriano), the players, staff, (manager) Enzo (Maresca) and you, our unique supporters.

“Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all.”

The Premier League, which first charged City in 2023, announced the findings of the commission on Tuesday.

The commission found City arranged “sham” deals to artificially inflate revenues and reduce costs by more than 900 million ($1.2 billion) between 2009 and 2018, a period in which they won three Premier League titles and other silverware.

In doing so they concealed the true state of their finances but the commission said the club were “significantly in breach of both the Premier League’s and UEFA’s spending limits”.

The commission found the club guilty on all charges related to breaches of financial rules over the nine-year period.

They have also been found guilty of most of the charges they faced in relation to a failure to cooperate with a Premier League investigation.

PUNISHMENT

Everton and Nottingham Forest were given points deductions in the 2023/24 season for single breaches of financial sustainability rules.

On that basis, City could face relegation given the sheer weight of the case against them.

There is speculation they could even be stripped of their titles.

“If the appeal fails, Manchester City cannot stay in the league, they have to suffer. And I say that as a supporter and a fan,” said the club’s former chairman, David Bernstein.

Another factor is a potential flood of compensation claims. Former Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow told the BBC that clubs would be “queueing up to seek compensation”.

Former City defender Micah Richards, who was part of the side that won the club’s first top-flight league title for 44 years in 2012, said the uncertainty was “heartbreaking”.

“The reports were troubling. I saw the words which were used by the Premier League in sham contracts and I felt absolutely devastated,” Richards said on The Rest is Football podcast.

“I’ve been at that club since I was 14 years old, I would die for that club. I achieved my dream at Manchester City, but then to hear these reports, and not only me as an ex-player, but the fans, what they have to go through, absolutely devastating.”

City have become the Premier League’s dominant force since the 2008 takeover by Sheikh Mansour, the vice-president and deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates.

The team are next in action against Liverpool at Anfield on October 11, where they will take on the club who have been their closest challengers over the past decade.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

West Indies posted 405-7 after three centuries in the innings, but India rode on a 255-run opening stand between Gill and Rohit Sharma (101) to achieve the target with 39 balls to spare in Guwahati as they took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

South Africa top the highest successful run chase in men’s ODI cricket, scoring 438-9 against Australia in Johannesburg in 2006.

India’s previous best chase was 362 against Australia in Jaipur in 2019.

Gill, who hit 110 in the opening win, went past his previous ODI best of 208 and reached his second double ton in 117 balls for the fastest 200 in ODI history.

He hit 26 fours and eight sixes in his 133-ball knock.

Both Gill and veteran opener Rohit came out roaring after the Indian bowlers took a beating on the batting-friendly pitch.

Rohit, despite being 39, is looking ahead to the 2027 ODI World Cup and made his intent clear from the start, hitting Alzarri Joseph for two fours and a six in the second over.

Gill reached his second successive hundred with a four off Joseph and soon Rohit raised his 35th ODI ton to the delight of a nearly-packed stadium filled with blue Indian jerseys.

Rohit, who crossed 12,000 ODI runs during the knock, fell lbw off Jayden Seales and walked off with 10 fours and six sixes in his 75-ball blitz.

His departure got previous match centurion Virat Kohli to the crease, but the star player got out on 29 much to the disappointment of the fans.

Gill stood firm and along with Ruturaj Gaikwad, who made an unbeaten 31, the pair eased India towards victory.

Earlier, John Campbell hit 101 to lay the foundations for West Indies’ highest-ever ODI score and better their previous best of 389 against England.

They ended up losing that game as well.

Skipper Shai Hope (104) and Amir Jangoo (114) also struck centuries to boost the total.

Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav struck twice to reach 200 ODI wickets.

Roston Chase with his unbeaten 29 took West Indies past 400, a total that proved insufficient.

The third match is on Saturday in New Chandigarh.

Scoreboard

WEST INDIES:

J. Campbell c Dhir b Brar101

K. Carty c Dhir b Krishna9

S. Hope c Nabi b Yadav104

A. Jangoo c Gaikwad b Jadeja114

S. Rutherford c (sub) b Brar0

R. Chase not out29

K. Paul c Kohli b Yadav3

A. Joseph c Sharma b Jadeja8

S. Joseph not out14

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-1, NB-1, W-20)23

TOTAL (for seven wickets, 50 overs)405

DID NOT BAT: J. Seales, V. Lawes

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-37 (Carty), 2-147 (Campbell), 3-329 (Hope), 4-330 (Rutherford), 5-348 (Jangoo), 6-369 (Paul), 7-385 (Joseph)

BOWLING: Krishna 5-0-45-1, Nabi 8.5-0-84-0 (3w, 1nb), Brar 10-0-96-2 (2w), Dhir 6.1-0-38-0 (1w), Jadeja 10-0-75-2 (5w), Yadav 10-0-65-2

INDIA:

R. Sharma lbw b Seales101

S. Gill not out223

V. Kohli c Rutherford b S Joseph29

R. Gaikwad not out31

EXTRAS (LB-2, NB-3, W-17)22

TOTAL (for two wickets, 43.3 overs)406

DID NOT BAT: R. Jadeja, K.L. Rahul, N. Dhir, A. Nabi, K. Yadav, G. Brar, P. Krishna

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-255 (Sharma), 2-320 (Kohli)

BOWLING: Seales 8-0-78-1 (2w), Joseph 8-0-89-0 (3w), Joseph 6-0-52-1 (2nb), Paul 3-0-49-0 (4w, 1nb), Chase 8.3-0-63-0, Lawes 10-0-73-0

RESULT: India won by eight wickets.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Shubman Gill

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

The inaugural season is planned for 2027, with the league expected to feature six to eight franchise teams in its first edition.

According to the PHF, the rights to the league were awarded to Mediacast following a competitive bidding process earlier this year. The league is being developed on the lines of the FIH Hockey Pro League and the Indian Hockey League, with international players expected to be contracted alongside Pakistani players.

The PHF said the participation of foreign players would provide Pakistani players with an opportunity to play and train alongside international talent, while Pakistani hockey professionals would also work with experienced international experts involved in the league.

The federation said the PHL was intended to attract private-sector investment through franchise ownership and corporate sponsorship, as well as generate commercial opportunities through broadcasting and digital content, merchandising, advertising, hospitality and ticketing.

It added that the league would also include grassroots programmes and could contribute to the development of a more commercially sustainable hockey structure in the country.

The PHF said the PHL was part of its efforts to modernise hockey infrastructure and move the sport beyond its traditional dependence on national and departmental competitions.

“Pakistan’s hockey history is extraordinary,” the federation said in the press release announcing the launch, pointing to the country’s Olympic gold medals, World Cup titles and Asian Games successes.

“The challenge before us is to ensure that this history becomes the foundation of a modern and sustainable future, rather than merely a source of nostalgia,” it said.

The federation described the league as an attempt to build a professional hockey ecosystem around regular competition, investment, performance science, youth development and commercial sustainability.

The Oct 14 launch is expected to formally set the process in motion for the first PHL season in 2027.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

NAGOYA: China crossed the 150-gold mark at the Asian Games on Wednesday as their divers extended an extraordinary unbeaten run, while Filipino tennis star Alexandra Eala guaranteed herself a medal and South Korea and Japan set up a men’s football final.

China’s gold-medal tally reached 150 with four days of competition remaining, putting them well clear of hosts Japan on 50 and South Korea on 24.

Its dominance was particularly emphatic in diving, where Chen Yiwen and Lian Junjie won the final two titles of the competition to give China a 14th consecutive clean sweep of the sport’s gold medals at the Asian Games.

Lian’s victory in the men’s 10-metre platform also delivered China an unprecedented 100th consecutive Asian Games diving gold.

China have won every diving title since making their Asian Games debut in 1974.

“This milestone was made possible by the efforts of our predecessors, built up little by little over generations,” Lian said. “Their work has given us the sense of mission and responsibility that we carry today, and motivated us to fight for this 100th gold medal.”

Chen, a double Paris Olympic champion, also underlined the depth of China’s women’s diving programme.

“Girls are every bit as capable as boys,” she said. “We are pushing ourselves to perform more difficult dives, too. We do not train any less than the boys.”

In tennis, Eala reached the women’s singles semis with a 7-5, 6-0 win over Taiwan’s Joanna Garland at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Centre.

The 20-year-old Filipino, ranked 18th in the world, recovered from an early exchange of breaks before taking control of the opening set and sweeping through the second. Her semi-final against China’s Wang Xiyu will guarantee her at least a bronze medal.

Eala, the first Filipino to win a WTA singles title, said she had no regrets about missing the China Open to represent her country.

“Representing my country and playing these types of Games, SEA Games, Asian Games and hopefully the Olympics, they’re very close to my heart and a big part of my dreams,” she said.

Eala’s women’s doubles campaign ended, however, when she and Shaira Rivera lost 7-5, 6-2 to China’s Jiang Xinyu and Yang Zhaoxuan.

Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting also secured a place in a final, beating Uzbekistan’s Sitora Turdibekova 5-0 in the women’s 60kg boxing semi.

The Olympic champion, who was at the centre of a gender dispute at the Paris Games, is now one victory away from a second Asian Games gold. Lin, 30, thanked the medical team after the bout for treating a cut to her nose sustained in the quarters.

In men’s football, South Korea came from behind to beat China 2-1 in Osaka and reach the final for a record fourth consecutive Games.

Bae Jun-ho scored the late winner after the teams went into half-time level at 1-1. He said he and stand-in captain Eom Ji-sung had discussed the move that produced the decisive goal during the interval.

South Korea will face Japan in Saturday’s final after the hosts edged Uzbekistan 9-8 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time.

South Korea will seek a fourth successive Asian Games gold in the competition.

India, meanwhile, remained on course for another strong showing in compound archery after winning all three team gold medals on offer. India had swept all five compound archery titles at the Hangzhou Games three years ago.

Surfing, which made its Asian Games debut in Aichi-Nagoya, also continued to attract attention ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Japan’s 18-year-old Mirai Ikeda became the first women’s Asian Games surfing champion after beating China’s Yang Siqi in Tuesday’s final. Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Kanoa Igarashi won the men’s gold, giving Japan both inaugural titles.

Ikeda said she was already focused on closing the gap with the world’s leading surfers before LA28.

“I still feel like I’m not quite at the level of the world’s top surfers right now,” she said. “There’s so much to work on, and I’m honestly really excited about it.”

She plans to compete in as many World Surf League events as possible in an attempt to qualify for the Championship Tour.

Away from competition, organisers again faced questions over the Games’ operations.

Nagoya mayor Ichiro Hirosawa apologised to athletes following a series of complaints over accommodation and transport. The Games have more than 17,000 athletes and officials, with participants housed in temporary wooden units, hotels and a cruise ship rather than a conventional athletes’ village.

“We must offer our apologies to the athletes and others affected by these inconveniences,” Hirosawa said. “We must sincerely reflect on the mishandling that occurred.”

The logistical problems came after days of rain disrupted the Games, although warmer sunshine finally returned to Nagoya on Wednesday.

The improving weather also allowed the golf competition to begin, with South Korea’s Tom Kim overcoming a punishing travel schedule to shoot a three-under-par 67 and finish the opening round in a share of seventh.

Kim, who had travelled from the Presidents Cup, said he had managed only six hours of sleep in the previous 48 hours.

Defending champion Taichi Kho of Hong Kong, China, carded a one-under 69 and recorded a hole-in-one during his round.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

NAGOYA: Pakistan’s men’s squash team confirmed at least a bronze medal at the Asian Games on Wednesday, booking their semi-final spot with a straight-sets win over South Korea, while the women’s team saw their campaign end with a round-robin defeat to China at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena.

Pakistan’s men swept South Korea 2-0 in their quarter-final without needing a deciding rubber.

Mohammad Ashab Irfan set the tone in the opening match against Na Jooyoung, needing all three games but rarely looking troubled.

The 22-year-old traded early points with his 19-year-old opponent before surging to a 7-2 lead in the first game, eventually closing it out 11-5 in nine minutes.

The second followed a similar script — Jooyoung twice clawed his way back to within a couple of points, only for Ashab to restore his cushion each time and seal it 11-8.

The Korean threatened a fightback in the third, pulling back three points as Ashab served for the match, but the Pakistani finally converted on his fourth attempt to complete an 11-5, 11-8, 11-8 win in just under half an hour and put Pakistan 1-0 up.

Pakistan’s top-ranked player, Noor Zaman, then had the chance to seal the tie against Seojin Oh, and made light work of it despite a scare in the third game.

The world No. 33 raced through the first game 11-4 in six minutes and followed it with an equally comfortable 11-5 in the second, building leads of four points or more in both.

Oh, 20, produced his best squash of the tie in the third, fighting back from 8-7 down to level and then snatching the game 11-8 to keep Korean hopes alive.

But Noor responded immediately in the fourth, racing into a four-point lead and reeling off seven straight points to close it out 11-2 — sealing both the match and a 2-0 win for Pakistan without the tie needing to go the distance.

Noor and Ashab have already secured the bronze medals in the singles event.

The result sends Pakistan through to face Hong Kong, who defeated Qatar in the other quarter-final, in Thursday’s semi-final.

There was no such reward for Pakistan’s women, who went down 2-1 to China in their second round-robin qualifier — a defeat that followed an opening 3-0 loss to Macau in the same play-off group and ends their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.

Pakistan had finished third in their four-team pool behind Hong Kong and South Korea, dropping them into a round-robin decider against China and Macau for the tournament’s remaining two quarter-final berths.

Thirteen-year-old Mah­noor Ali opened proceedings against Ziyi Liu and never found her rhythm.

The 19-year-old Chinese player raced through the first game in five minutes, winning it 11-4, before edging a tighter second 11-8.

Liu pulled away in the decider, building an early six-point cushion that Mahnoor could only intermittently interrupt, and closed out the match 11-2 to hand China a 1-0 lead in the tie.

Sana Bahadar dragged Pakistan level with the standout performance of the day, overcoming Yuning Zhang.

The 20-year-old built an early 7-2 cushion in the first before Zhang, also 20, rallied to within three points; Sana held her nerve to close it out 11-7 on her second match point.

The second game swung repeatedly — the pair traded the lead seven times before Sana, trailing 9-6, reeled off three straight points to level at 9-9 and then closed it out 11-9.

Any hope of a Chinese recovery in the third evaporated as Sana, after trading the opening two points, won eight in a row to seal the game 11-2 and level the tie at 1-1.

The contest came down to a decider between 14-year-old Sehrish Ali and Ziyuan Yin, and China’s teenager proved too strong.

Yin, 14, surged to an early lead in the first game and closed it out 11-3, then weathered a mid-game wobble in the second — Sehrish had narrowed the gap to 9-5 — before finishing it 11-7.

The Pakistani teenager briefly led in the decider, but Yin responded with a burst of consecutive points to pull clear and served out the match 11-2, sealing a 2-1 win for China.

At the Aichi Prefecture General Shooting Gallery, Pakistan’s Ghulam Mustafa Bashir scored 289 with eight inner tens across his 30 shots and sits eighth in the men’s 25m rapid fire pistol qualification after a strong opening stage on Wednesday.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Wednesday witnessed strong buying interest at attractive valuations, propelling the benchmark KSE-100 index above 171,000 intraday before closing well below the day’s high, posting modest gains and snapping a two-session losing streak.

Topline Securities Ltd said the index rallied over 1,892 points to hit an intraday high of 171,492.53 on selective buying but pared most gains amid profit-taking and geopolitical concerns over the US-Iran conflict, closing at 169,969.33 points, up 368.92 points, or 0.22pc.

Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Ltd, said the PSX experienced a positive trading session but failed to sustain gains above the key psychological level of 170,000, thereby ending September below the milestone.

During the session, the benchmark remained in positive territory, reaching an intraday high of 171,492.53 before losing momentum amid renewed selling pressure, which pushed the index below 170,000 by the close.

On the macro front, the Ministry of Finance unveiled a Strategic Action Plan for the Local Currency Bond Market, aimed at improving secondary-market liquidity, broadening the investor base and strengthening the rupee-denominated securities framework.

Meanwhile, according to media reports, Pakistan is considering allowing power plants and other private companies to directly import LNG, as the government seeks to strengthen energy supplies without adding pressure on state finances.

Habib Bank, Meezan Bank, Lucky Cement, Fatima Fertiliser, Fauji Fertiliser, Engro Holdings, Engro Fertiliser, United Bank, Systems Ltd and Mari Energies collectively added 467 points.

Investor participation improved over the previous session, with trading volume rising 4.08pc to 591.23 million shares, while total turnover edged up to Rs20.19bn.

Analysts said near-term sentiment was likely to remain volatile and range-bound, with 170,000 acting as a key psychological pivot. Sustained buying above 170,000 could revive momentum towards 171,500-172,500, while failure to hold the level may expose the index to 169,000-168,000.

They added that the International Monetary Fund review, Middle East geopolitical developments and crude oil prices would remain key catalysts for market direction.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

Higher-than-expected sales tax receipts were the main driver of the achievement. Although the sales tax and Federal Excise Duty (FED) target was exceeded, income tax and customs duty collections fell short during the three-month period.

Overall revenue posted modest growth of 7pc compared to Rs2.889tr collected in the same period last year.

On a monthly basis, the revenue collection reached Rs1.360tr in September as against the projected target of Rs1.343tr, exceeding the target by Rs17bn. The revenue collection grew 11pc over last year’s collection of Rs1.229tr in September 2025.

The FBR collected over Rs13tr in FY26, exceeding the downwardly revised target of Rs12.983tr by over Rs21bn. The government has projected a target of Rs15.264tr for FY27.

The FBR issued Rs203bn in refunds and rebates to taxpayers during July-September FY27, up from Rs159bn. Income tax collection reached Rs1.437tr in 3MFY27, falling short of the target of Rs1.484tr by Rs47bn. However, it recorded a growth of 5pc from Rs1.365tr collected in the same period last year.

Sales tax collection totalled Rs1.137tr, exceeding the Rs1.051tr target by Rs86bn. However, it increased by 11pc from Rs1.020tr last year.

Higher inflation is boosting domestic sales tax revenues, particularly due to surging petroleum product prices. As fuel costs rise, not only does the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) increase, but the knock-on effect also drives up the prices of other goods, generating additional sales tax collections.

Customs duty collection stood at Rs312bn in 3MFY27 against the target of Rs320bn, resulting in a decline of Rs8bn. Federal excise duty collection reached Rs197bn, against the target of Rs198bn. It increased by 3pc from Rs191bn collected last year.

Higher-than-expected receipts from the petroleum development levy also helped the government offset the shortfall in revenue collection.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

A fact-finding mission of the ADB has been planned for January 2027 to discuss and evaluate project details with the federal and Sindh governments.

The mission will carry out assessments and management of environmental and social risks and impacts, labour and working conditions, resource conservation and pollution prevention, land acquisition and land-use restrictions, biodiversity and sustainable natural resources management, cultural heritage, and climate change.

The multi-tranche ADB facility will support the upgrading of the 480km Karachi-Rohri section of ML-1, the country’s core passenger and freight corridor. It will finance climate-resilient railway infrastructure improvements, the modernisation of signalling and operations, and institutional and capacity-building measures to enhance efficiency, safety, sustainability, and regional connectivity.

According to the project details, $1bn will be provided from ordinary capital resources, while $100m will come from concessional ordinary capital resources lending.

ADB is supporting the transformation of Pakistan Railways under the ML-1 through project-readiness financing approved in 2025, and is considering follow-on multi-tranche financing, combined with capacity building and governance reforms.

The ADB project document states that the investment programme will improve national and regional connectivity, logistics efficiency, and economic competitiveness in Pakistan by establishing a fast, safe, reliable, affordable, and environmentally sustainable railway system.

Earlier this month, Asian Development Bank Vice President for South, Central and West Asia Yingming Yang visited Islamabad and met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the railways minister and other senior government officials.

A central focus of the discussions was the modernisation of the ML-1 railway corridor from Karachi to Peshawar, a vital national infrastructure priority. The premier emphasised to the ADB vice president that upgrading ML-1 is essential to modernise freight logistics, strengthen regional trade connectivity, and support major industrial initiatives. The meeting also stressed the need to begin ML-1 early to support infrastructure development and modernise connectivity.

Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi briefed the ADB vice president that the Karachi-Rohri ML-1 upgradation project is estimated to cost approximately $2.5bn and is targeted for completion within three years. He added that, in line with the prime minister’s directions, the 183-kilometre Nawabshah-Rohri section would be taken up on a priority basis.

The railways minister asked the ADB official to expedite approval of the central investment loan for the project and said that Pakistan intends to continue cooperating with the ADB and other development partners to finance the remaining sections of ML-1 from Rohri to Peshawar.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

In the latest T-bill auction, the government raised profit rates on all tenors, fuelling speculation in the financial market about a possible interest rate hike at the next SBP Monetary Policy Committee meeting on Oct 26.

The largest increase of 75bps was recorded in the benchmark six-month treasury bills, with the rate rising to 12.45pc from 11.70pc in the previous auction held on Sept 16. The government raised Rs88.3 billion through the six-month bills.

The rate on three-month T-bills rose 61bps to 11.99pc, up from 11.38pc in the previous auction. The government raised Rs143.86bn for this tenor.

Govt raises returns on different tenors by up to 75bps

Despite the smallest increase of 45bps, the 12-month T-bill rate reached 12.49pc, 99bps above the SBP’s policy rate. The wide gap between T-bill yields and the policy rate surprised market participants and fuelled speculation about a possible policy rate hike. The government raised Rs29.66bn through this tenor.

Another indicator of a possible interest rate hike is rising inflation, which stood at 11.1pc in August and is expected to remain around 10.75pc in September. International oil prices also remain elevated, reaching as high as $100 per barrel, while the Gulf war shows no signs of ending.

Financial experts said the country could face further inflationary pressures as Pakistan imports around 70pc of its fuel requirements.

The Gulf war has already affected several countries, including Pakistan, as their dependence on imported oil and gas has made energy costs increasingly expensive.

Moreover, both foreign and domestic investment have remained stuck at pre-war levels recorded on Feb 28, 2026, as risks have increased. This is slowing economic growth while adding to inflationary pressures.

Total bids received in the auction amounted to Rs2.726 trillion, while the government raised Rs880bn — Rs400.25bn through competitive bids and Rs479.8bn through non-competitive bids.

Financial experts said the interest rate could be increased at the next monetary policy review if inflation remains elevated at around 11pc, while some believe conditions have reached a point where a higher policy rate may be warranted.

“If cheaper money is available amid higher inflation, it will further fuel inflation, which is not what the government or the State Bank wants,” a financial expert said.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

In a notification, Ogra set the price of LPG at Rs279.34 per kg for October, up from Rs258.64 per kg in September, an increase of about Rs21 per kg. As such, the price of the 11.8kg domestic cylinder was set at Rs3,296.23 for October against Rs3,052.09 in September.

According to Ogra’s calculation, the producer price of LPG (40pc propane and 60pc butane) was determined at Rs238,041.49 per tonne for October against Rs217,351.52 per tonne in September. The new price included excise duty of Rs85 per tonne.

Therefore, the producer price for the 11.8kg cylinder was worked out at Rs2,808.89 for October against Rs2,564.75 in September. This also included Rs4,669 per tonne in petroleum levy and 18pc GST amounting to Rs36,311.41, compared with Rs33,155 in September.

For the consumer price, another Rs35,000 per tonne in marketing (Rs17,000), distribution (Rs10,000) and transportation (Rs8,000) margins was added to the maximum producer price, besides an additional 18pc GST of Rs6,300 per tonne on this margin.

Thus, the maximum consumer-end LPG price was fixed at Rs279,341.49 per tonne (or Rs3,296.23 per 11.8kg domestic cylinder) for October against Rs258,651.52 per tonne (Rs3,052.09 per 11.8kg cylinder) for September. The new prices would remain in effect until October 31, 2026.

Ogra said that compared with the previous month, the Saudi Aramco-CP price increased by 9.9pc while the average dollar exchange rate slightly decreased by 0.12pc, resulting in an increase of Rs244.14 in the LPG consumer price per 11.8kg cylinder. The increase in the LPG consumer price was Rs20.68 per kg, it said.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

The FBR said on Wednesday that it has registered a criminal case under the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2010, and is processing further cases.

The Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation (Inland Revenue) unearthed the fraud through a detailed analysis of FBR’s database, supported by Pakistan Revenue Automation Ltd (PRAL).

The analysis identified 85 taxpayers who, between March 2025 and June 2026, revised their wealth statements for tax years 2014 to 2019 and inserted cash, physical gold, prize bonds, properties and business capital that had never been declared before. The law clearly bars this.

Under the explanation to section 116(3) of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001, a wealth statement cannot be revised more than five years after the due date of the original return. Every revision identified was made well beyond this limit.

In one case, the Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation (Inland Revenue), Lahore, found that a taxpayer revised his wealth statement for tax year 2015 in May 2026 and inserted fictitious funds of Rs102.8 million.

He then carried this amount forward through his wealth statements up to tax year 2025 and used it to account for seven properties worth Rs64.41m bought in May and June 2026. When asked, he could not explain the source of the funds. The tax sought to be evaded in this case alone exceeds Rs46m.

Regional Directorates of Intelligence and Investigation (Inland Revenue) have launched 48 criminal inquiries across Pakistan, while proceedings in the remaining cases are in progress.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir issued notices to the respondents while hearing a petition filed by Fuelex Petroleum Pvt Ltd, challenging Ogra’s refusal to entertain its application for an OMC licence.

The petitioner has challenged an April 14, 2026 letter issued by Ogra, through which its application for an OMC licence was declined on the ground that the federal government had imposed a moratorium on the establishment of new OMCs.

The company contended that Ogra should have examined its application under the criteria prescribed under the Pakistan Oil Rules, 2016, rather than rejecting it solely on the basis of the moratorium.

The petition also challenges a Jan 9, 2019 direction under which Ogra was asked not to accept fresh applications from local investors until revised criteria for the establishment of OMCs were approved.

According to the petitioner, the 2019 direction envisaged the moratorium as a temporary arrangement pending approval of revised criteria by the cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee.

It was further pointed out that the direction allowed applications from foreign investors during the intervening period, while local investors remained subject to the restriction.

The petitioner argued that despite the passage of approximately seven years, the revised criteria had not been approved, resulting in what it described as an indefinite moratorium on the licensing of new OMCs owned by local investors.

The company also relied upon Ogra’s Annual Report for 2024-25, contending that the report recorded the entry of new OMCs during the period when the moratorium was allegedly still in operation.

During the hearing petitioner’s counsel Yahya Niazi argued that the 2019 direction could not continue indefinitely when the measure was originally linked to approval of revised licensing criteria.

The counsel also challenged the direction as being ultra vires the Ogra Ordinance 2002 and the Pakistan Oil Rules, 2016, arguing that the statutory authority to grant licences rests with Ogra and that the licensing process must be governed by the applicable regulatory framework.

The petition also raised constitutional questions, invoking Articles 4, 9, 10-A, 18, 24 and 25 of the Constitution, relating to lawful treatment, due process, the right to conduct lawful business, protection of property and equality before law.

Justice Arbab observed that the petitioner’s points required consideration and directed the respondents to submit their reports and para-wise comments.

The court specifically directed Ogra to submit a comprehensive report explaining the current regulatory status of the matter and the progress made regarding the revised criteria.

The report has been sought by the next hearing, scheduled for Oct 8.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Wednesday extended the deadline for filing income tax returns by 15 days to Oct 15, 2026.

According to a circular issued by the FBR, the deadline has been extended in view of requests received from various trade bodies and tax bar associations. The extension has been granted under Section 214A of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, the circular said.

The FBR said the extension applies to persons required to file their income tax returns for tax year 2026 by September 30.

The board received 5.767 million returns until midnight on Sept 30, compared with 3.980m filed during the corresponding period last year, showing an increase of 45 per cent.

Total tax paid with returns up to Sept 30 stood at Rs77.3 billion, about 7pc below last year’s Rs83.3bn, despite the surge in filers. Tax paid with returns by individuals rose by 11pc to Rs34.5bn and by associations of persons by 16pc to Rs3.7bn. However, tax paid with corporate returns fell from Rs49bn to Rs39.1bn.

Meanwhile, FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial on Wednesday cautioned that retailers failing to file tax returns under the Tax Asaan Scheme would face enforcement action within a month.

Briefing a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Mr Langrial said traders would be monitored for four weeks to assess compliance. “Even after a month, the situation may remain unchanged,” he remarked, warning that enforcement would follow if registration targets were not met.

He noted that the scheme had been designed in consultation with traders and was intended to be the simplest framework ever offered to retailers. “Retailers believe nothing happens if they do not file returns. Until this perception changes, compliance will not improve,” he observed.

Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani told the committee that 2,195 retailers had registered through the application within two months, covering traders with annual sales of up to Rs200m.

So far, 10,338 shops have registered, including 2,337 new entrants, though only 787 are filers. Mr Kayani said the government had given traders the scheme they themselves had demanded, but cautioned that the FBR would intervene directly in markets if registration did not increase.

FBR Member Hamid Atiq Sarwar informed the committee that, out of 4.3m retailers nationwide, only 600,000 were filers.

The committee was told that penalties would be imposed in stages — Rs10,000 initially, Rs25,000 at the second stage and Rs50,000 at the third — before stricter enforcement measures were taken against persistent defaulters.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

He made the remarks during a meeting with WFP Pakistan Country Director Anita Hirsh, during which the two sides reviewed ongoing projects, the food security situation in the province and future areas of cooperation.

The discussions focused on making joint efforts more effective for expanding WFP-supported initiatives in Balochistan.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

Speaking at a press conference here, Mr Dad said that last month he and his family had travelled from Dalbandin to Noshki to attend the fateha of a relative who died there. He alleged that a relative, Asmatullah, handed over his seven-year-old daughter, Sabiha, to the suspects in exchange for Rs3,000. “My daughter was raped and killed a few hours later and her body was dumped in bushes,” he said.

He said police had arrested three suspects in connection with the incident, but despite completion of her post-mortem examination and availability of the suspects’ DNA reports, no remand had been obtained and no proper investigation had been conducted.

He said judicial proceedings in Noshki had been disrupted due to the prevailing situation in the area. Despite the passage of a month, he said, they had not been properly interrogated.­

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

DERA MURAD JAMALI: Residents of Bhag city in Kachhi district observed a shutter-down strike on Wednesday following a call by the All Parties Action Committee to protest a deteriorating law and order situation marked by increasing incidents of theft, highway robberies, street crime and looting.

Political, social and tribal leaders, traders, transporters and people from different segments of society participated in the protest, expressing concern over a worsening security situation in the city and surrounding areas.

All bazaars, shops, shopping centres and markets remained closed throughout the day, while traffic on the city’s roads remained thin as residents avoided unnecessary travel.

Leaders of the All Parties Action Committee, including Mama Abdul Sattar Bangulzai, Rais Allah Ditta and representatives of political parties, led the protest and addressed participants.

Speaking to protesters, the leaders said the law and order situation in Bhag city and the entire tehsil had become “extremely alarming”, adding that citizens no longer felt secure in their homes, markets, highways or connecting roads.

They alleged that armed men were carrying out robberies openly during the day and fleeing after snatching cash, mobile phones, motorcycles and other valuables from citizens.

The leaders also expressed concern over the impact of crime on government employees, saying schoolteachers, doctors and other officials travelling to villages and nearby areas for official duties were also facing security risks due to alleged robberies on roads.

The All Parties Action Committee gave the administration four days to recover recently snatched belongings, take action against criminal elements and improve the law and order situation.

They warned that if effective measures were not taken within the given timeframe, the committee would announce its future course of action.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

In response to questions about the prevailing situation in the region, Mr Haider said Poonch was the historic centre of the freedom movement and expressed concern over the developments there.

He acknowledged his differences with the protesters, which he said he had already expressed publicly, but maintained that the issue should be resolved through dialogue. “I must warn the protesters that the system we have may collapse,” Mr Haider said.

He also urged national security institutions and officials to play their role in res­olving the situation, saying the AJK Leg­islative Assembly remained incomplete without representation from Poonch.

He said it would depend on how effectively Mr Gillani implemented his 100-day agenda. The situation required the prime minister to ensure effective administrative control, Mr Haider added, saying he had discussed the matter with Mr Gillani and was confident that impro­vements would follow.

Talking about Dr Naqi, Mr Haider described him as a politician belonging to a prominent political family of Poonch. “I am hopeful that under him the presidency will play a vital role in resolving matters,” he said.

Asked why senior political leadership had not intervened to resolve the crisis, Mr Haider said senior politicians currently lacked a mandate for dialogue as political parties had been marginalised.

He said the 12 seats reserved for Jammu and Kashmir refugees were aligned with UNSC resolutions and that the government of Pakistan was bound to protect them.

Asked whether AJK could be converted into a province, he said Pakistan would then have to withdraw the Kashmir case from the United Nations.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

“Where the sentence relates to an offence punishable with heinous crimes and the legislature has consciously prescribed safeguards to ensure that a sentence of imprisonment for life retains its substantive penal content, judicial sympathy cannot be permitted to override statutory commands,” observed Justice Rozi Khan Barrech.

Justice Barrech was heading a two-judge FCC Branch Registry Quetta bench, also comprising Justice Arshad Hussain Shah, which took up a petition filed by Suba Khan, a life convict, challenging the consolidated judgement of the Balochistan High Court that had declared excessive remissions gran­ted to prisoners illegal and void.

The FCC upheld the BHC judgement.

Upholds BHC verdict declaring excessive remissions to prisoners illegal and void

Suba Khan was convicted by the Loralai additional sessions judge on May 26, 2015, under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, and sentenced to life imprisonment with a fine of Rs200,000 and six months’ simple imprisonment in default.

According to the nominal roll submitted by the prison authorities on Aug 17, 2023, Suba Khan had actually undergone nine years, four months and 19 days of imprisonment, while remissions totalling 15 years, seven months and 18 days had been credited to his account. This left only five months and 23 days of imprisonment remaining, subject to payment of compensation.

In a 16-page judgement, Justice Barrech observed that under the legal framework, the remission system was neither absolute nor unregulated.

Not respecting legislative intent would not only undermine the integrity of the sentencing process but also erode public confidence in the fair and lawful administration of criminal justice, the judge observed.

While Rule 199 and Rules 212, 213, 215 and 216 of the Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978, enable prisoners to become eligible for remission through good conduct, industry and appearance in the enlisted examinations, Rule 217 expressly circumscribes the extent to which such remissions may operate.

In the case of a prisoner sentenced to imprisonment for life, Rule 217(ii) unequivocally mandates that the cumulative effect of all remissions should not reduce the actual period of imprisonment to less than 15 years. This statutory restriction is mandatory in nature and admits of no exception, save where the sentence is lawfully altered in the exercise of constitutional or statutory powers by the competent authority, the verdict said.

Applying these principles to the facts of the present case, it is evident that the computation reflected in the nominal roll of petitioner Suba Khan is prima facie inconsistent with the governing statutory scheme.

“Such computation has the practical effect of reducing the petitioner’s actual period of incarceration to substantially below the statutory minimum prescribed by Rule 217(ii) and Rule 140 of the Rules, 1978, thereby defeating the legislative intent underlying the remission framework,” the verdict said.

It said a remission granted or computed in derogation of the express provisions of the Prison Rules cannot confer an enforceable legal right, nor can the FCC lend its imprimatur to an administrative action that travels beyond the authority conferred by law.

“The rule of law demands that executive authorities administer remissions faithfully within the limits prescribed by the legislature,” the judgement said.

It added that there can be no cavil with the proposition that the modern philosophy of punishment recognises reformation and rehabilitation as important objectives of the criminal justice system. The remission regime embodied in the Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978, reflects this reformative approach by creating an incentive-based mechanism through which prisoners may earn reductions in sentence on account of good conduct, industry and educational advancement.

Equally, however, the law maintains a careful balance between the rehabilitative interests of the prisoner and the societal interest in ensuring that judicially imposed sentences retain their deterrent, retributive and denunciatory force.

The verdict observed that the comparative jurisprudence and authorities relied upon affirm that executive clemency and remission must operate within the framework prescribed by law and that the objectives of punishment and public protection must remain paramount.

These decisions reinforce the principle that reformation should be encouraged, but not at the expense of the statutory limits enacted by the legislature, the judgement said.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

The accused did not appear during Wednes­day’s hearing, prompting Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra to re-issue arrest warrants in connection with a case registered at the Margalla police station.

During the hearing, the police also failed to submit the case challan. The court directed the police to submit the challan promptly and adjourned the hearing until Oct 9.

The direction came after the court was informed that the required document had not been filed, delaying the proceedings.

The Nov 26 protest case has been under judicial consideration, with the ATC issuing repeated ord­ers for the appearance of the nominated individuals.

The failure of the accused to appear and the police’s failure to file the challan have slowed the proceedings. The reissued warrants require law enforcement agencies to arrest and produce the nominated individuals before the court.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

A statement by the United Nations Special Rap­por­teur on Human Rights Defenders said that the couple must be immediately released and “unfounded criminal and terrorism charges against them” should be dropped.

The Supreme Court on Sept 17 suspended the couple’s sentences in the controversial social media posts case and ordered their release on bail against surety bonds of Rs200,000 each. However, they were re-arrested on terrorism-related charges related to a separate older case only hours after the SC granted them bail.

“Invoking an older case immediately after they were granted bail appears to be an attempt to use the criminal justice system as punishment for freedom of expression and human rights advocacy,” the UN statement read.

It said the experts had followed the proceedings since January, when they were first arrested. They were of the opinion that the proceedings seemed “intended to punish and intimidate these lawyers” and send a “chilling message” to the profession. They condemned the use of “vague and overbroad” counter-terrorism provisions to hinder the lawyers’ right to promote, protect, and defend human rights, according to the press release.

“International standards provide that governments should protect lawyers from intimidation, harassment and improper interference, and from prosecution for carrying out recognised professional duties. The same standards also protect lawyers’ freedom of expression,” the statement cited them as saying.

They said the couple “should already have adequate access to counsel of their choice, to their family, and to adequate and necessary medical care”.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will inaugurate several major highway projects in the coming months, incl­u­ding the Lodhran–Multan Expressway, exp­­ansion of the Pindi Bhat­tian-Faisal­abad Mot­or­way and the Peshawar No­­rthern Bypass, a feder­­al minister said on Wednesday.

Federal Minister for Com­­mu­ni­c­a­tions Aleem Khan made the rem­arks while presiding over a me­­­­eting of the National Hi­­ghway Authority (NHA), where ongoing and propo­s­­ed projects, revenue en­­hancement, road safety, development prog­r­am­mes and financial matters were reviewed.

He said work on the Sia­­lkot-Kha­rian Motor­way was also progressing rapidly, while construct­i­­on had commenced on the Kara­chi-Quetta-Chaman Pak­istan Expressway (N-25).

Expressing concern over the poor condition of the Lahore-Gujranwala GT Road, Mr Khan directed NHA authorities to take immediate measures to improve the road condition and provide relief to citizens travelling on the important route.

Aleem Khan seeks Rs108bn from Centre for Balochistan road projects; PM vows to deepen China ties

The NHA has successfully met its revenue enh­ancement targets set two years ago, Mr Khan noted.

Moving forward, the agency plans to finance the construction of new roads using existing revenue streams. However, of­­ficials during the meeting decided to ask the federal government for Rs108bn to fund separate NHA projects in Balochistan.

Highlighting road saf­e­­ty, the mi­­nister expressed reservations about the de­­sign of the M-4 and other exi­s­­ting highways. He dir­ected the NHA to engage foreign experts to improve engineering and ensure Pakistan’s roads are gre­en, safe and built to modern international standards.

“The complete protection of human lives must remain the top priority,” Mr Khan said, instructing NHA engineering staff to adopt international best practices for motorist comfort and safety.

During a briefing on the availability of funds for the M-6 Motorway and other ongoing public sector projects, officials highlighted the strain on the national infrastructure.

The meeting was infor­med that the NHA mana­ges just around three per cent of the country’s road network, yet more than 80pc of the country’s traffic moves on this network.

The NHA will soon give PM Shehbaz a detailed presentation reviewing the authority’s performance over the past two and a half years.

Ties with China

Separately, PM Sheh­baz reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening its all-weather strategic cooperative partnership with China, describing the decades-old friendship as a bond built on mutual trust, unwavering support and deep affinity between the two peoples.

Addressing a reception marking the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, PM Shehbaz said Pakistan and China were also celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year.

He said China’s transformation and its contribution to global peace, st­­ability and developm­e­­nt continued to inspire countries around the world.

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong said both countries were all-weather strategic cooperative partners and highlighted growing economic ties, including bilateral trade reaching $16.44bn from January to July, up 13.4pc year-on-year.

The ambassador said China would continue cooperation with Pakistan in industry, agriculture, mining, health, education and climate change while advancing the high-quality development of CPEC 2.0.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

• Former NA speaker Asad Qaiser says party will proceed as planned
• Emergency or governor’s rule could benefit ‘non-democratic powers’, warns Barrister Gohar

CHARSADDA: The PTI leadership on Wednesday reiterated that the party would not postpone its protest march scheduled for Oct­o­ber 4, warning the governm­e­­nt that imposing emergency or governor’s rule in Khyber Pakht­un­khwa would not resolve the issue.

Talking to reporters at the Sheikhabad residence of MNA Fazal Mohammad Khan, who was allegedly abducted by unidentified individuals on Sept 22, former National Assembly speaker and senior PTI leader Asad Qai­ser said there was no possibility of postponing the march and that the party would proceed with its planned programme on Oct 4.

He also alleged that PTI fou­n­der Imran Khan was being deprived of fundamental human rights, urging the federal government to set aside what he called personal interests and focus on the welfare of the country and aits people.

He questioned whether the treatment being meted out to elected representatives was consistent with the principles of respect for the vote.

On reports about the possibility of governor’s rule in KP, Mr Qaiser said that if such a step was taken, the PTI would challenge it through legal means and there would also be a public reaction. He said the government should avoid policies that could increase confrontation between the state and its citizens.

Separately, speaking to the media at Parliament House in Islamabad, interim PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that imposing emergency or governor’s rule was not the solution to the protest march. He warned that non-democratic powers would benefit if emergency were imposed. He assured that the march would be peaceful.

He said it was unfortunate that the government and opposition were making claims but there were no meaningful negotiations.

Talking about the situation in KP, Asad Qaiser said an Apex Committee meeting should be convened to discuss what he described as serious law and order problems in the province. He called for implementation of the National Action Plan, saying that restoration of peace was essential for economic activity and employment opportunities.

The PTI leader accused the federal government of a ‘discriminatory’ attitude towards the province and urged it to end political differences with KP through constitutional means.

Mr Qaiser said the PTI wanted a system based on justice and the rule of law. He alleged that the political system was being pushed against the wall and warned that such a situation could have serious consequences. He said the state was expected to protect its citizens and questioned whether the country could progress amid the prevailing political circumstances.

The ex-NA speaker also commented on the remarks of PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai, saying that party members should respect one another’s right to express their opinions within the organisation.

Asked about the letter, Barrister Gohar said it was Mr Yousafzai’s personal opinion, but he was still very much part of the party’s leadership.

Mr Yousafzai had written a letter to the party demanding that the march be postponed. Later, he broke down during a live TV show when he was asked about the trolling he had faced on social media and being called a traitor.

Ikram Junaidi in Islamabad also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

PARIS: Highlighting the close relationship between climate change and air pollution, a new analysis by the EU’s Copernicus Climate Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) has ranked Lahore among cities whose ozone levels are “extremely poor”.

Heatwaves and wildfires combined with human-caused emissions this year to expose one third of the world’s population to extremely high levels of ozone pollution, said the report, released on Wednesday.

When heat and sunlight react with airborne emissions from wildfires, vehicles and industry, they create ground-level ozone pollution. At this level, ozone is harmful to human health, ecosystems and crop yields.

Yet, when this air pollutant is high above the Earth’s surface in the stratosphere, it has a positive effect, protecting life against harmful ultraviolet radiation.

New EU analysis finds one-third of world population exposed to harmful air pollution

Despite progress in cutting the most harmful air pollutants in recent decades, ozone has proved more difficult to tackle as climate change fuels the conditions that favour its formation.

This year’s ozone pollution was driven in part by record-breaking heatwaves and wildfires that seared Europe and North America and sent smoke well beyond their borders.

Indonesia has experienced major wildfires, while the warming El Nino weather pattern, which started in June and is due to peak later this year, could drive more fires in southeast Asia, according to the analysis.

“Air pollution does not stop at borders. It can travel thousands of kilometres, crossing continents and oceans and affecting air quality far from its source,” CAMS director Laurence Rouil said in the Atmosphere Watch report.

CAMS uses satellite data and computer models to track air pollution and wildfires.

The report found that 34pc of the global population was exposed to “extremely poor” air quality between January 1 and September 15, meaning concentrations of ozone were well above the World Health Organization’s exposure guidance.

The WHO’s guideline sets 100 micrograms of ozone per cubic metre as the maximum recommended level of exposure, averaged over eight hours.

Another 17pc of the world breathed “very poor” air, while 5pc was exposed to “good” levels of ozone.

Asia has the highest rate of exposure to ozone pollution, with 53pc of its population breathing “extremely poor” air. Another 22 percent was exposed to “very poor” ozone.

The continent’s widespread emissions are driven by industrialisation, economic development and transport, as well as wildfires and the burning of agricultural residue.

New Delhi, Dhaka, Chinese megalopolis Chongqing and Pakistan’s Lahore were among cities whose ozone levels were “extremely poor”.

Two thirds of the population in North Am­­erica and 45 percent in Europe were exposed to “poor” or “very poor” air quality.

EU regulation has been effective in reducing emissions from air pollutants, except for ozone, the report said.

Ozone pollution is linked to 60,000 premature deaths per year in Europe, Ian Marnane, an official at the European Environment Agency, told a media briefing.

Ozone levels in North America also rem­ained “relatively unchanged” despite ambitious emissions reduction policies, the report said.

Smoke from forest fires, crop burning and cooking are significant contributors to Africa’s air pollution while Saharan dust travels as far as Europe.

Eight per cent of Africa’s population endured “extremely poor” air quality this year. It was “very poor” or “poor” for 19pc of the continent.

Ozone levels were very high in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo and extremely elevated in Rio de Janeiro but the air quality was “good” or “fair” for 81pc of South America’s population.

One bright spot was Oceania, including Australia and New Zealand, where 66pc of the population enjoyed “good” ozone levels and 34pc lived under “fair” conditions.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026