Former interior minister and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said on Tuesday he had already predicted that May 1 to June 20 would be important for the government. 

Speaking to media persons before attending the anti-terrorism court, former interior minister Sheikh Rashid said Kashmiris were shocked over what happened over there. 

“We were fighting the case of people living in the occupied Kashmir but now we are fighting our own case (in Azad Kashmir),” he said. He said people who were arrested in Rawalpindi on Tuesday should be released. 

“It is very unfair that Kashmiris were arrested from their homes,” the AML head said. He said the brave men of police were getting thrashing from trans persons. 

“When I went abroad, everyone was talking about these trans persons. They (policemen) had entered our houses and took away money, jewellery and children.”  

The senior politician said, “We are observing silence and restraint till June 30. During this period we will give them the right advice. We advise them to release the Kashmiris. India is taking advantage of the situation.” 

The former minister said the government should take immediate notice of the illegal measures taken by some people. 

“If I am summoned in the 190 million pound reference, I will definitely attend the inquiry,” he said. He said the NAB Rawalpindi had told the high court that they did not want to arrest Sheikh Rashid.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has issued instructions for making all inactive and damaged water filtration plants functional.

The chief minister passed this order while chairing a meeting regarding the Aab Pak Authority here on Tuesday.

During the meeting, a report was presented on the status of 5,027 water filtration plants installed across Punjab.

The chief minister called for a comprehensive plan for the supply of clean drinking water in every area, and ordered the immediate activation of inactive and damaged reverse osmosis (RO) plants across the province.

She also issued directives for the installation of new water filtration plants on a priority basis in areas with brackish water.

During the meeting, the CM directed the relevant authorities to utilise all-out resources to provide clean drinking water to citizens.

It was also decided in principle to entrust the management of all water filtration plants to a single authority.

The meeting was attended by Senator Pervez Rasheed, provincial minister Maryam Aurangzeb and others.

Former information minister Fawad Chaudhry has been granted pre-arrest bail in the Zille Shah murder case.

Lahore High Court judge Anwaarul Haq Pannun took up Chaudhry’s interim bail petition on Tuesday.

During the proceedings, the public prosecutor contended that Chaudhry was accused of hiding the facts, adding that he did not tell the federation that Zille Shah had been hit by a motorcar.

At this, Justice Pannun asked the prosecutor whether or not the charge against Fawad Chaudhry was bailable. He answered in the affirmative.

Later, the court approved the bail application of the former minister in the Zille Shah murder case.