ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani court on Saturday granted bail to journalist Asad Ali Toor in a case registered against him for campaigning against the judiciary.
Toor, a reporter and a popular video blogger in Pakistan, was arrested on Feb. 26 on charges of orchestrating a campaign against the state and its officials, with the “objective to coerce, intimidate, and incite violence” against them through his social media platforms.
His arrest came a month after Pakistan formed a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe a “malicious” social media campaign against the country’s judges. The decision was taken after the Supreme Court decided to uphold a ruling by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to strip jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s party of its election symbol. The decision was criticized by Khan supporters, journalists and political analysts on social media.
In recent months, several of Toor’s posts and videos on YouTube have been critical of government agencies, Pakistan’s military establishment and the Supreme Court.
“The accused has been granted bail in the case mentioned above,” Judge Humayyun Dilawar said in his release orders to Adiala jail superintendent on Saturday. “Hence, if not wanted in any other case, then release [the accused] after verifying surety bonds.”
Pakistani media bodies, including the Press Association of the Supreme Court and the Islamabad High Court Journalists Association, earlier filed a joint petition requesting the top court to cancel the JIT probing the alleged campaign against the judiciary.
Leading Pakistani media bodies also urged the government and judiciary to intervene to stop what they said was growing censorship and pressure from state institutions.
Pakistani state institutions deny they control media groups.
Pakistani court grants bail to journalist Asad Toor in anti-judiciary campaign case
https://arab.news/y3gdt
Pakistani court grants bail to journalist Asad Toor in anti-judiciary campaign case
- Asad Toor was arrested on Feb. 26 on charges of running an online campaign against state and its officials
- His arrest came month after Pakistan formed inquiry team to probe alleged online campaign against judiciary
Pakistan to introduce new navigation system to cut flight delays at Skardu, Gilgit and Chitral
- Pakistan Airports Authority says satellite-guided RNP-AR procedures will be in place by June 2026, pending a feasibility study
- The system is expected to reduce weather-related delays and cancelations in Pakistan’s most popular mountain destinations
KARACHI: Pakistan said on Sunday it would introduce a new satellite-guided navigation system for flights to Skardu, Gilgit and Chitral by June 2026, aiming to curb chronic weather-related delays and cancelations at the three remote northern airports.
The destinations are among Pakistan’s most visited tourist sites and serve as gateways to the Himalayan and Karakoram ranges. Gilgit-Baltistan, which borders China, also holds strategic significance as part of the northern corridor linking the two neighbors.
Marking International Civil Aviation Day, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said it was accelerating aviation-sector upgrades, including the rollout of Required Navigation Performance – Authorization Required (RNP-AR) procedures.
RNP-AR is a high-precision, satellite-based approach system that enables aircraft to fly accurate, terrain-avoiding paths in low visibility, reducing weather-related disruptions at mountain airports.
“Pakistan Airports Authority is rapidly working on major projects for safe, efficient and modern aviation in the country,” the PAA said.
It added that RNP-AR flight procedures for Skardu, Gilgit and Chitral “will be implemented by June 2026,” subject to the findings of a consultant’s feasibility study.
The authority said the system would “significantly reduce weather-related flight delays and cancelations.”
The PAA also announced timelines for several other major upgrades, including terminal expansion at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport by September 2026 and runway modernization at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport by January 2026.
Further works include the next upgrade phase at Skardu Airport and phase two of Muridke General Aviation Aerodrome, both due to begin next year.
New greenfield airports in Dera Ismail Khan, Sukkur and Faisalabad have also entered planning stages, the statement said.
Final sites have been approved for a new air-traffic control tower and rescue fire station at Karachi Airport, infrastructure the PAA said would strengthen air-traffic management and safety.
“Pakistan Airports Authority is leading the aviation sector toward a safer and more accessible future,” it said.
