The London Post” on behalf of our entire staff, expresses its deepest sorrow over the passing of Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, President of Azad Kashmir. We pay tribute to the late politician for his tireless efforts throughout his life, especially for the freedom of occupied Kashmir, and express our condolences to his family and the people of Azad Kashmir.
London:
PR:
The Pakistan High Commission London, in collaboration with the London School of Economics and Political Science Students’ Union Pakistan Development Society, organized a discussion on Pakistan’s growing importance on the global stage.
The interactive session was attended by Pakistan High Commissioner Dr. Muhammad Faisal, students studying in various departments of the London School of Economics and officers of the Pakistan High Commission. Students from prominent UK institutions including King’s College, Imperial College, Queen Mary University, Warwick University and University College London also participated.
In his keynote address, Pakistan’s High Commissioner Dr. Muhammad Faisal said that Pakistan holds exceptional importance on the global stage due to its strategic geographical location, emerging economy, vast investment opportunities, strong defence capabilities and young population. He said that the entire world recognized Pakistan’s success in the recent conflict with India in the Battle of Haq and Operation Baniyan-ul-Marsoos, where the entire nation defeated a larger enemy in terms of size and resources with unity and solidarity.
The High Commissioner said that Pakistan’s leadership, through progressive and self-reliant policies, has sent a message to the world that Pakistan desires peace. Dr Muhammad Faisal urged Pakistani youth to equip themselves with modern skills and knowledge so that they can effectively serve Pakistan in a rapidly changing and challenging global environment. Students participated in the discussion session, in which High Commissioner Dr. Muhammad Faisal highlighted the features of Pakistan’s foreign policy, economic reform agenda and the key role of youth in Pakistan’s prosperity.
By Sajjad Azhar:
Lahore:
A three-day kite-flying festival titled Basant Mela begins today in Lahore, often called Pakistan’s cultural capital. While many people associate Basant directly with kite flying, history suggests the two are not identical traditions.
The word Basant, derived from Sanskrit, simply means spring. Writer Shahid Ahmad Dehlvi notes that the festival originally involved offering mustard flowers at Hindu temples to welcome the season. Over time, Muslims in South Asia adapted the celebration within their own cultural practices. A popular account links the tradition to the poet Amir Khusro, who presented spring flowers to his spiritual mentor Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya, inspiring gatherings marked by music, devotion, and shared festivities — long before kites became central to the celebration.
Kite flying itself carries a far older and more global history. Though commonly linked to ancient China, some anthropological narratives trace early kite traditions to regions such as New Zealand and Hawaii. In many early cultures, kites were not toys but sacred objects. Myths from Māori and Hawaiian traditions describe deities flying or transforming into kites, suggesting spiritual symbolism rather than entertainment.
Historical accounts also connect kites with experimentation and legend. Greek mathematician Archytas is said to have explored early flight concepts, while Chinese philosopher Han Fei Zi wrote of wooden kites capable of lifting humans — stories that blur the line between mythology and innovation. In China and Japan, kites were flown to repel evil spirits and attract good fortune, with certain days considered auspicious for flying.
Elsewhere, kites served practical purposes. In Malaysia and Papua New Guinea, they were used for fishing, while the Maya community in Guatemala still flies giant kites during the annual Day of the Dead to honour ancestors. Over time, China transformed kite flying into recreation, including competitive kite fighting, a tradition later carried to Japan.
Beyond festivals, kites have also become powerful metaphors. From Chinese poetry to European philosophy, writers have used the image of a kite rising against the wind to symbolise resilience and ambition — a theme echoed in South Asian poetry as well.
Today’s Basant celebrations reflect layers of history shaped by religion, mythology, and cultural exchange. What began as a seasonal ritual and spiritual symbol has evolved into a colourful public spectacle — reminding us that the story of kite flying is ultimately a shared human heritage that transcends borders.
Staff Reporter:
Lahore:
Under the auspices of Hamdard Foundation Pakistan, a special ceremony was held to award scholarships under the prestigious Hakim Muhammad Saeed Scholarship Programme, aimed at supporting and encouraging talented students in their educational journey.
Managing Director of Al Mustafa Welfare Trust, Ms. Nusrat Saleem, along with Dean of the National Institute of Public Policy Dr. Naveed Elahi, Dr. Jamshed Ahmed, Professor Nasir Bashir, Ali Bukhari and other distinguished guests participated in the event. During the ceremony, cheques and certificates were distributed among deserving male and female students to motivate them to continue their studies with greater confidence, determination and commitment.
Speakers on the occasion highlighted the importance of investing in education and empowering youth through scholarship initiatives, noting that such programmes play a vital role in building a progressive and knowledge-based society.
The event concluded with words of encouragement for the students, urging them to pursue academic excellence and contribute positively to the nation’s future. Photo coverage of the ceremony was carried out by Tariq Hassan.
Nawaz Kharal:
Lahore:
A distinguished delegation from the United States, including former Member of the National Assembly Muhammad Usman Khan Noori, Dr. Inam ul Haq, Muhammad Shoaib Yousufi, Dilawar Hussain and Ghulam Mustafa Murshad, visited the Al Mustafa Pakistan Head Office in Lahore during a special goodwill tour.
During their visit, the honoured guests participated in humanitarian activities at the Al Mustafa Dastarkhwan, where they personally served meals to people in need. The delegation also toured the Al Mustafa Eye Hospital and attended an introductory session with the Al Mustafa team to learn more about the organisation’s welfare and healthcare initiatives.
Managing Director Al Mustafa Pakistan, Ms. Nusrat Saleem, welcomed the delegation along with prominent personalities including former Deputy Attorney General Mian Khalid Habibullah Advocate, Pir Syed Muhammad Safdar Shah Gilani, Central President of Anjuman Talaba-e-Islam Faisal Qayyum Magray, and Dr. Muhammad Yousaf Ansari.
The visiting guests appreciated Al Mustafa’s ongoing humanitarian services, particularly its healthcare and social welfare programmes, and expressed admiration for the organisation’s dedication to serving underprivileged communities. The visit highlighted growing international support and collaboration aimed at strengthening charitable outreach and humanitarian impact.
By Cairo correspondent:
Thousands of sick and wounded Palestinians are eagerly waiting to leave for urgent medical care abroad as Israel opens the Rafah border with Egypt for “limited” transfers.
The Rafah crossing – after being closed by Israel for nearly two years – will reportedly operate for six hours a day and allow the exit of only 150 people, with 50 individuals greenlighted to enter Gaza. Permission to return through the Rafah crossing is only being granted to those people who left Gaza during Israel’s genocidal war, either for medical treatment or due to temporary displacement.
We’ve got initial reports suggesting that 50 Palestinians are supposed to return today, but only after undergoing Israeli military security checks. Returnees’ families are still waiting in the vicinity of Nasser Hospital [in Khan Younis] to be reunited with their loved ones. But the process is being drawn out by the complexity of security tests. The general atmosphere here is filled with cautious hope for reunification, but also acknowledgment of the grim reality that the whole process is highly selective and being restricted by Israeli security measures.
Monitoring deck:
Former Labour MP Dan Norris, 66, remains under investigation over alleged rape of a woman and has been further arrested on suspicion of raping a second woman, sexually assaulting a third woman, voyeurism, and upskirting a number of women. The former West of England Mayor was first arrested in April 2025 on suspicion of sexual offences against a girl, child abduction, and the rape of a woman. Police are no longer investigating the alleged child sexual offences or abduction. All the offences are alleged to have occurred between the 2000s and 2020s.
Mr Norris, currently the independent MP for North East Somerset and Hanham, was formerly a member of the Labour Party, until he was suspended in April 2025 after being first arrested by Avon and Somerset Police.
Norris is also being investigated over alleged misconduct in a public office. He remains on conditional bail.
Nawaz Kharal:
Lahore:
Distinguished guests from the United Kingdom, Brother Ishaq and Sister Asma Khan, visited the Al Mustafa Pakistan office where they met with Managing Director Ms. Nusrat Saleem and received a detailed briefing on the organization’s ongoing humanitarian initiatives.
During their visit, the guests also toured the Al Mustafa Dastarkhwan and personally participated in serving meals to individuals in need. They observed firsthand the spirit of compassion and dedication that defines the welfare project.
Impressed by the atmosphere of sincerity, care, and community service, Brother Ishaq and Sister Asma Khan commended the Al Mustafa Welfare Trust team for their tireless commitment to supporting vulnerable communities. They offered heartfelt prayers for the organization’s continued strength, sincerity, and success in serving humanity. The visit highlighted the strong collaboration between UK supporters and Al Mustafa Pakistan in advancing humanitarian causes and promoting values of compassion and social responsibility.
Staff reporter:
London:
The Kashmir Solidarity Day was observed at the Pakistan High Commission in London to express solidarity with the people of Illegally Occupied Indian Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and to commemorate the sacrifices in their struggle for self-determination.
The event was attended by members of the UK Parliament, human rights activists, political activists and prominent Kashmiri leaders in the UK, as well as members of the Pakistani diaspora in the UK. Special guest speakers included Engineer Amir Muqam, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan, and Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon, Chairman of the Kashmir Committee, who participated in the event virtually from Pakistan. The prominent guest speakers included MP Yasmin Qureshi, MP Afzal Khan, MP Adnan Hussain, Lord Qurban Hussain, former MP Khalid Mehmood, Chairperson JKSDMI Raja Najabat Hussain, Information Secretary Tehreek-e-Kashmir (UK) Adv. Rehana Ali, Chairman Kashmir Council Europe Ali Raza Syed, Cllr Muhammad Sadiq, former Mayor of Sutton (UK), Cllr Amjad Abbasi, and Shamim Shawl Executive Member of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference.
The speakers paid rich tributes to the sacrifices of the people of Jammu & Kashmir who have been suffering at the hands of an oppressor force in IIOJK. They reaffirmed their resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their struggle for self-determination, a right which was recognized by the United Nations Security Council, decades ago. They further reaffirmed that the only solution to Jammu & Kashmir dispute was to grant the right of self-determination to the Kashmiris, as per the UN Security Council Resolutions and the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Engineer Amir Muqam, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan, said, “Kashmir is not an internal matter of India; it is an internationally recognized dispute. Pakistan will continue to raise the voice for the Kashmiri people at every global forum until justice is delivered.”
Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon, Chairman Kashmir Committee, said “The people of Kashmir have paid an immense price for their demand for freedom. Their voices must not be ignored, and their suffering must not be forgotten.” Addressing the seminar, Dr Mohammad Faisal, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, stated that Pakistan has consistently advocated for a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people. He said that for over seven decades the people of Illegally Occupied Indian Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) have endured relentless repression including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, communication blackouts, and forced demographic changes. Despite years of brutal suppression, the spirit of the Kashmiri people has remained unbroken, he continued. Special prayers were offered for Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry, President AJK for his long-life contributions to the cause of Kashmir.
Earlier, the High Commissioner, along with prominent Kashmiri leaders based in UK, many Pakistani Diaspora and media, visited the photo exhibition arranged by Pakistan High Commission London. The photo exhibition portrayed pictorial representation of the atrocities being inflicted upon the innocent people of Jammu & Kashmir.
London:
AFP:
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of Libya’s former leader Col Muammar Gaddafi, has reportedly been shot dead. The death of the 53-year-old, who was once widely seen as his father’s heir apparent, was confirmed by the head of his political team on Tuesday, according to the Libyan News Agency. His lawyer told the AFP news agency a “four-man commando” unit carried out an assassination at his home in the city of Zintan, though it was not clear who may have been behind the attack. In a competing version of events, his sister told Libyan TV that he had died near the country’s border with Algeria. Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was long seen as the most influential and feared figure in the country after his father, who ruled Libya from 1969 until being ousted and killed during an uprising in 2011. The International Criminal Court wanted to put him on trial for crimes against humanity for his alleged role in the suppression of opposition protests in 2011. In 2015, he was given a death sentence in absentia for his role in the crackdown by a court in Tripoli, in the west of the country, where control is in the hands of the UN-backed government. But he was released by militia in Tobruk, in the east, under an amnesty law two years later. Since the overthrow of Gaddafi, Libya has been split into areas controlled by various militias and is currently divided between two rival governments. During his father’s time as leader, he shaped policy and led high-profile negotiations despite having no official role in government, including those which led his father to abandon his nuclear weapons programme.
Such agreements saw international sanctions on the north African country lifted, and some considered Gaddafi a reformist and acceptable face of a changing Libya. Gaddafi had always denied that he wanted to inherit power from his father, saying the reins of power were “not a farm to inherit”.
However, in 2021 he announced he would run for the presidency in elections which were then postponed indefinitely.
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