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Security guard killed in attack on former AJK PM Tanveer Ilyas’s convoy in Poonch district – Pakistan
MUZAFFARABAD: A personal security guard of former Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) prime minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas was shot dead on Friday after his convoy came under fire while travelling through his native constituency via the Tain-Dhalkot area, according to officials and his aides.
Officials said that the convoy of Ilyas, who now heads the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) in the region, had travelled around one-and-a-half kilometres beyond the Tain-Dhalkot bridge over the Jhelum River, when unidentified assailants opened fire from the mountainside at around 1:30pm.
Muhammad Asif, a retired commando from Sudhnoti district serving as one of Ilyas’s security guards, was struck in the head after reportedly moving to shield the former premier. He was critically injured and succumbed to his injuries while being moved to a hospital in Rawalpindi.
Officials said Ilyas remained unharmed and in a video message released later in the day, he alleged that the attack had been carried out by armed members of the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a claim that could not be independently verified.
There was no immediate response from the group to the allegation.
Tain-Dhalkot falls under LA-22 (Poonch-V), Ilyas’s native constituency. In the 2016 elections, the seat was won by his uncle, Sardar Saghir Chughtai, on a Muslim Conference ticket.
Chughtai later joined the PTI but died in a road accident days before the 2021 elections. Following his death, his widow, Shahida Saghir, contested and won the seat.
She rarely participated in the Legislative Assembly’s proceedings, while her son, Ahmed Saghir, was later appointed an adviser to the AJK government with the status of a minister.
Last year, Ahmed Saghir joined the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) along with Ilyas, but the latter recently parted ways with the party after being denied tickets from three constituencies, LA-22 (Poonch-V), LA-15 (Bagh-II) and LA-25 (Neelum-I).
He is contesting the regional elections from all three constituencies on the IPP ticket and facing Saghir in LA-22.
According to official sources, Ilyas’s staff informed the Poonch administration on Thursday night that he intended to visit LA-22 to attend meetings and offer condolences to bereaved families.
The sources added that the administration advised him against the visit due to the prevailing law-and-order situation. He was instead advised to visit LA-15 (Bagh-II).
“On his insistence, officials informed him that if he was determined to undertake the visit, he would have to do so at his own risk,” an official said on condition of anonymity.
According to the same sources, Ilyas’s staff subsequently informed the police control room that road closures were “our issue” and asked them only to convey to senior authorities that “Sardar Sahib will visit his constituency.”
In the video message, Ilyas paid tribute to his guard, and said he had sacrificed his life while shielding him and claimed that some other members of the convoy had also sustained injuries
He alleged that the same group, which had been protesting over shortages of flour and other essential commodities, was also blocking roads and holding the state’s machinery and ordinary citizens hostage.
The former premier said efforts to resolve the situation through dialogue had failed and urged the authorities to deal with those responsible “with an iron hand.”
Calling the assailants “terrorists”, he demanded a decisive operation against them, saying that, if required, the army should also play its role.
He further warned that “stones will be answered with stones and bricks with bricks” and alleged that the perpetrators were pursuing “RAW’s agenda” in the state, referring to India’s intelligence agency.
Sources close to Ilyas said he had announced compensation and a residential plot for the family of the slain guard.
Attempts to contact Ilyas’s spokesperson, Sardar Iftikhar Rasheed, were unsuccessful.
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Bilawal promises to be ‘voice’ of people of AJK in Centre – Pakistan
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday promised to be the voice of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in the Centre and globally by bridging the “gap” between the federal capital and the people.
Addressing the rally, the PPP chairman said: “We have seen both good and bad times in AJK, but I have not witnessed the conditions that I am seeing today.”
He termed the prevailing situation a “test” for the AJK government, the state of Pakistan and all political parties.
“It is the primary duty of a politician to be the voice of the people in the Centre and on international forums, but they are not fulfilling their responsibilities,” he said, adding that “politicians have to act as a bridge between the people of AJK and the Centre, but this is not happening.”
He emphasised that this was not an issue limited to AJK; Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan were facing the same fate.
“If the people of AJK give me the mandate, I promise that I will be your voice in Islamabad and globally,” Bilawal said.
He stressed that there was “no issue that cannot be resolved politically and peacefully”, and affirmed his commitment to resolving the AJK issue.
The PPP chairman further said that he had proposed the formation of a truth and reconciliation commission to address the AJK issue.
“If this is acceptable to the government and the protesters in AJK, then this can be a way to resolve our issues.”
He also urged the protesters to halt their demonstrations and the government to refrain from taking further measures until the proposed truth and reconciliation commission was formed and completed its work.
However, the PPP chairman clarified that neither the government nor the protesters had responded to his proposal.
“If this is not the way, I ask the government and protesters to tell me what the alternative is,” he said.
“Protesting is the right of the people, but protests that disrupt the supply of food, fuel and medicine do not affect the government; only the people bear the burden,” the PPP chairman stated.
More to follow
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Pakistan security forces kill 24 khawarij in Bannu IBOs: ISPR
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan security forces conducted intelligence-based operations in Bannu and surrounding areas, killing 24 khawarij over the past 24 hours, ARY News reported on Friday, citing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The military’s media wing stated that terrorists belonged to the banned militant group referred to as Fitna al Khawarij and were involved in multiple terrorist activities.
A large quantity of weapons and ammunition was recovered from the militants during the operations, ISPR said.
The statement added that security forces remain committed to bringing all those responsible for terrorism to justice and will continue operations against militants and their facilitators.
ISPR said efforts to eliminate terrorism, including threats allegedly supported from outside the country, will continue until the complete eradication of the menace.
Read more: Operation Shaban: Pakistan security forces kill 88 terrorists in Balochistan
On the other hand, Pakistan security forces killed three more terrorists in the ongoing “Operation Shaban” in Balochistan.
According to security sources, the joint operation “Shaban” by the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan, and police against terrorists is continuing, security sources said.
Effective operations against terrorists are underway in the area, with security forces targeting them through both aerial and ground-based actions.
Sources said that as a result of successful operations, terrorist groups have suffered significant losses. During recent actions, confirmed reports indicate that four more militants have been killed.
With the latest casualties, the total number of terrorists killed during Operation Shaban has reached 88, according to security sources.
Sources added that since July 5, a total of 126 terrorists have been killed in Operation Shaban and other intelligence-based operations.
Security officials said that Operation Shaban will continue in Balochistan until the last terrorist is eliminated.
Game Review: Part One — Lego Batman: Legacy is the game we deserve and need right now – Tech
We have a charming and earnest, albeit too easy, tribute to the Caped Crusader.
TL;DR
Pros
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Pays tribute to the Batman films, comics and animated series beautifully
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The Freeflow combat system makes a much-needed return
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Side-splitting dialogue and slapstick humour
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Multiple unlockable costumes and Batmobiles
Cons
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Combat can be a little too easy
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Some puzzles are extremely simplistic
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Voice acting is a bit weak, with Batman being the weakest
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The Riddler is back
Provisional score: 4.5/7 — Enjoying it, but I want a greater challenge
Reviewed on PlayStation 5; available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC (Windows) and Nintendo Switch 2
Price: Rs17,000 (physical copy); $69.99 (PlayStation Store); $59.99 (Steam)
When we put up a review of 007 First Light, we asked our readers (you lovely people) which game we should review next: Pragmata or Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. And the people have spoken.
I’ve played the Lego games before and I’m a casual fan of the series. Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga is one of my favourite games on the Nintendo Wii. But the series has evolved, with far more elaborate levels, the addition of spoken dialogue and effectively being parodies of their source material. In this case, Batman.
Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is a charming and earnest homage to the films, from Tim Burton’s 1989 epic to 2022’s The Batman by Matt Reeves, while also being a spiritual successor to the Batman Arkham games, featuring a lot of its gameplay elements.
So far, I’m enjoying the game and having a right laugh with some of the jokes. If you’re a Bat-fan, this is a game for you, but don’t expect much of a challenge.
Get the popcorn
As I said, Lego Batman: Legacy pays tribute to the Caped Crusader’s adventures beautifully with a far more light-hearted tone and the Lego games’ signature slapstick humour and silliness.
The game’s opening is literally just the first act of Batman Begins, with entire lines of dialogue from the film being spoken here. Having watched the Batman movies an unhealthy amount of times, I found myself quoting them out loud whenever an iconic line of dialogue was dropped.
If the prologue is Batman Begins, then Chapter One is taken straight from 2022’s The Batman, with the twin bouncers and all, as well as a Commissioner Gordon character based on Jeffery Wright.
While the material is good, some of the voice actors delivered a subpar performance, with Batman himself being the worst offender. When the character raises his voice, it doesn’t carry the gravity you’d expect from Batman.
Otherwise, some of the actors deliver a facsimile of their characters from the films, like the voice actor for Lucius Fox doing a Morgan Freeman impression. It’s good for a laugh, but it still sounds like someone doing an impersonation.
However, Catwoman, Robin, Gordon and the villains deliver standout performances true to their characters, whilst also adding something of their own to the mix.
I won’t mention any more here, but it’s evident that this game targets hardcore Bat-fans with its references, as well as those who enjoyed the films.
BAM! POW! CRACK!
The best way to describe Lego Batman: Legacy would be a Batman Arkham game, but with Lego’s signature building mechanics and chaotic humour. It’s a combination that works surprisingly well, eschewing Arkham’s darker tone while retaining the mechanics that made it a beloved series among gamers.
The Freeflow combat system from Arkham makes a glorious return here — it’s a system that allows you to engage a group of enemies by independently targeting each foe at will, moving to the next by pressing the movement stick in a different direction. A glowing prompt allows you to counter enemy attacks, while a combo meter keeps ticking over as long as you hit but don’t get hit, providing you with an unhealthy amount of dopamine.
However, the system has been reworked somewhat to accommodate Lego’s slapstick humour. Enemies will be disassembled once defeated (I thought Batman had a no-kill rule?), and some of the finishers and stealth takedowns involve Batman whacking an enemy over the head with a frying pan or a fish, or literally scaring them until they’re unconscious. Comic sound effects like “POW!” will also appear over enemies’ heads.
It’s important to know that you don’t only play as Batman. You’re accompanied by another character — Commissioner Gordon, Catwoman or Robin (depending on your choice) — who will not only join you in combat but also help you solve puzzles. Each of these secondary characters has their own combat animations as well, and they’re integrated into the game’s Freeflow system very well.
Seeing Freeflow in a Batman game again really made me quite happy. It’s a brilliant system that fits the character, and keeping the combo meter going above 50 hits is truly satisfying and intense. There’s a reason why it was copied by nearly every game released after 2009, with the system showing up in Sleeping Dogs, the Middle-earth games and 2015’s Mad Max.
My one complaint would be that combat is a little too easy on normal difficulty; I had to crank it to the hardest setting for a semblance of challenge. If you’re an Arkham veteran, you want to choose the Dark Knight difficulty. But even then, it’s too easy at times.
To the Batmobiles!
A fully open world Gotham City also makes an appearance, like Arkham City and Arkham Knight, all built out of Lego and is actually populated with civilians with random routines.
There’s traffic on the roads, pedestrians chatting with one another — it solves a complaint I had with Arkham Knight, that the city was largely empty and populated by criminals, making it feel lifeless.
Fortunately, developer TT Games has managed to create an open world that is both alive and matches the aesthetic of Gotham City — a sprawling metropolis fusing Gothic architecture with modern skyscrapers.
It’s a stunning open world, with plenty of activities to keep you occupied like random crimes, Riddler puzzles (we’ll get to that) and hidden collectables. There’s also “SubWayne” tunnels to travel quickly across the many islands making up Gotham. The name made me chuckle.
It’s also refreshing to see a map not cluttered with icons denoting each of these activities, like in the Assassin’s Creed games, giving you a clean interface to plot your next location. In fact, the game has a pretty clean user interface overall and there’s barely any screen clutter. Information is clearly displayed and the slightly more minimal heads-up display adds to the immersion. As much as it can when you’re playing with characters made from Lego.
But you’ll need some wheels to get around the city quickly, and that’s where the Batmobile comes in. Each one is based on the cars from the movies, comics, animated series and even the Caped Crusader’s debut in 1939, recreated beautifully with Lego bricks. If I could, I’d own a set in real life.
In addition to getting around Gotham, there are time trials you can take part in to unlock more vehicles, such as motorcycles and vehicles used by the other characters in your party.
Unfortunately, the Batmobiles and motorbikes don’t drive as well as they look. Handling feels a bit off, and it’s hard to take sharp turns, which makes the game’s time-trial races a nightmare to run. Arkham Knight’s Batmobile had far smoother handling, in my opinion.
Also, it feels like the cars in Lego Batman all share the same handling profile, rather than characteristics unique to each one. Moreover, two Batmobiles are locked behind a paywall at the moment: those from Arkham Knight and the Batman Beyond cartoon series. I wanted to drive both, so you can imagine how annoyed I was when I was greeted with a “Go to PlayStation Store” prompt.
Riddle me this
The game also features puzzles, either to allow access to a new area or to secure collectables hidden in Lego’s rendition of the enduring Gotham City. Each member of your party has a unique gadget which can be used to solve environmental puzzles, prompting you to switch between them to access new areas. Unfortunately, these too are somewhat simplistic in some cases.
Some puzzles, like those found during a sequence in a museum, have solutions that are too easy to figure out, in my opinion. Thankfully, some of the Riddler puzzles offer more of a challenge, requiring the use of specific gadgets or awareness of your environment. Speaking of which…
The insufferable Riddler makes his return. If you’ve played any of the Arkham games, you’ll know how annoying he is, but if you don’t, he’ll basically taunt you over the radio ad nauseam about how stupid Batman is and how he’ll never solve any of his puzzles and riddles. It’s like fingernails on a chalkboard, and the fact that he plays a similar role here is frustrating. I’m really, really looking forward to seeing Batman beat the riddles out of him.
A game we deserve and need right now
Lego Batman: Legacy does a superb job as a spiritual successor to the Arkham series, blending its combat mechanics, open world and puzzles well with the more vibrant and wholesome Lego aesthetic. Simplicity aside, I’m looking forward to playing and discovering more of what the game has to offer, such as more of the open world, the fully-customisable Batcave and also seeing where the story goes.
I’m genuinely curious to see how the story will unfold — whether it will continue to be a retelling of the Batman movies, or whether it will transition into an original story by TT Games. I’m really hoping it’s the latter, but only one way to find out.
To the Batmobile!
