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## Institutional Integrity Questioned as Top Police Officials Implicated in Drug Trafficking
A significant internal crackdown has been launched within the Karachi Police Department following the suspension of two high-ranking officers implicated in serious corruption. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Wasif Qureshi of the SIU and Sub-Inspector Ejaz Butt were relieved of their duties after notification of their immediate suspension was issued by Karachi Police authorities.
The suspension stems from serious allegations that DSP Qureshi and SI Butt were involved in the illicit sale of seized narcotics. The drugs in question had been recovered during an operation on December 1st, which was subsequently highlighted in a joint press conference attended by two provincial ministers and Karachi Police leadership.
In a separate but equally serious matter, DSP Usman Haider was also suspended following his arrest on charges related to the murder of his wife and daughter, further reigniting concerns over institutional integrity within the police force.
### Security and Crime Control Updates
On the security front, authorities successfully recovered all 14 passengers who had been abducted from a commercial bus traveling between Sadiqabad and Quetta. This recovery provides a crucial breakthrough in efforts to secure major inter-provincial routes.
Meanwhile, the city of Karachi saw an uptick in major property crime, with two supermarkets in the Gulshan Hadeed area being looted by two separate suspects over a two-day period.
In response to heightened festive security needs, Additional Inspector General (AIG) Karachi Javed Alam Odho chaired a crucial meeting to finalize security arrangements for the upcoming Christmas period. Concurrently, a segment of the railway track near Humayun, Shikarpur, was targeted and damaged by an explosion, disrupting national railway operations.
### Judicial and Political Turmoil
Controversy flared in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) as judicial proceedings were initiated to declare Chief Minister Sohail Afridi an absconder (advertised offender). This move follows other high-stakes legal maneuvering, including the filing of a petition in the Peshawar High Court (PHC) seeking the removal of Provincial Minister Amjad Ali’s name from the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL) and the Provincial Control List (PCL).
In a key appointment, Zafar Hijazi was formally sworn in as the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) in Islamabad. President Asif Zardari administered the oath of office to the newly appointed Ombudsman.
### Governance and Policy Decisions
In KP, CM Sohail Afridi visited Central Jail Peshawar, where he announced a special two-month remission for prisoners, offering relief to incarcerated individuals across the province.
Meanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti addressed the increasingly severe issue of drought plaguing the province, announcing that the government is devising a comprehensive plan to manage the escalating crisis.
### Diplomatic Engagements and Assembly Proceedings
The newly appointed Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Pakistan, Salem Mohammed Al Zaabi, visited the Sindh Governor House in Karachi. He met with Governor Kamran Tessori, and the discussion focused on bolstering Pak-UAE bilateral relations, enhancing investment opportunities, and other matters of mutual interest.
During a session of the Sindh Assembly, two significant resolutions were introduced: one aimed at modernizing the province’s antiquated fire brigade system, and another presented a tribute to the Bihari community for their sacrifices alongside the Pakistan Armed Forces during the 1971 East Pakistan tragedy.
Leaders of the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Aaeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) movement held separate meetings with the leadership of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) in Islamabad and subsequently met with National Watan Party chief Aftab Sherpao, signaling continued political coordination among opposition groups.
### International and Human Rights Developments
The Human Rights Council of Pakistan (HRCP) issued a strong condemnation of the reported action of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in India, who allegedly pulled the veil (niqab) off a Muslim female doctor, deeming the act an unacceptable violation of personal dignity and religious freedom.
Internationally, the father of the civilian hero who helped subdue the attacker at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, stated that his son’s bravery saved the lives of dozens of innocent people.
In culture, famed Bollywood actor Anupam Kher shared his “interesting” experience traveling by train after missing his connecting flight from Varanasi to Khajuraho.
Finally, the passing of veteran political figure Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo was confirmed by his family.
