New Delhi: India’s “Cockroach” party movement vowed Tuesday to press ahead with their campaign until the education minister resigns, a day after at least 180 people were injured in protests in New Delhi.

Thousands of protesters gathered in the heart of the Indian capital on Monday, demanding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and wider examination reforms, in a show of force by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) online movement.

The CJP has won millions of followers on social media since its launch in May, fuelling one of the biggest challenges to Hindu-nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi since he won his third term in office in 2024.

“We won’t stop. Pradhan has to be sacked,” CJP’s Ashutosh Ranka said in a social media post.

Hundreds of protesters remained camped at the Jantar Mantar protest site on Tuesday, many of them calling for wider changes in the education system.

On Monday, police fired tear gas and baton-charged protesters to stop them for marching on to parliament, in one of the biggest street rallies in Delhi in around five years.

At least 178 people were injured in clashes between protesters and security officials, Delhi Police said.

India’s ‘cockroach movement’ leaders say minister promises talks on demands

That included 118 police personnel, including senior officers, it said while criticising what it described as “unruly, aggressive and violent behaviour” by a “violent mob”.

“During the scuffle, around 60 protesters were also reported to get injured,” it said in a statement late Monday.

Protest organisers condemned the “high-handedness” of the authorities and said hundreds of protesters had been injured.

“It’s a shameful day in the history of Indian democracy that people, honest students, who had come for a genuine issue were brutally beaten by the Delhi police,” Ranka told AFP.

Ranka, who met senior minister JP Nadda on Monday, said the government had yet to respond to their demands.

Despite rapid economic growth, millions of people in the world’s most populous nation still struggle to find stable and well-paying jobs, fuelling discontent.

The protests follow a series of examination scandals that have shaken confidence in the country’s testing system.

Some 2.2 million aspiring medical students sat for a re-examination under tight security last month after the previous test was scrapped following the leak of a question paper.

That came on top of another scandal related to the online marking system of tests taken by nearly two million high school students.

PESHAWAR  –  Governor Khyber Pakh­tunkhwa Faisal Karim Kun­di on Monday said sustain­able peace was essential for the province’s economic de­velopment, investment and job creation, stressing that prov­ince possessed abundant nat­ural resources but continued to face security and economic challenges.

He expressed these views during an interactive ses­sion with a 104-member del­egation of the 20th National Workshop Balochistan, led by Brig Bilal Ghafoor, at the Gov­ernor House. The delegation comprised students, journal­ists, youth and representatives from different walks of life be­longing to all four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Responding to questions on security, terrorism, constitu­tional affairs, inter-provincial relations and the country’s po­litical situation, the Governor said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had historically served as a major trade hub with Central Asia but had also borne the brunt of ter­rorism due to its border with Afghanistan. He said terrorism remained a major challenge in both Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that ef­fective coordination through regular meetings of the provin­cial Apex Committee was nec­essary to tackle the issue.

The Governor said Rs900 bil­lion had been provided by the federal government for the war against terrorism, but ques­tions remained over its utiliza­tion. He added that despite im­mense sacrifices, the KP Police still lacked modern equipment and bulletproof vehicles, and said he had recommended to the Chief Minister that police salaries be brought at par with those of other provinces.

Kundi said the annual finan­cial commitment made at the time of the merger of the erst­while FATA had not been ful­ly honoured even after nine years. He also expressed con­cern over the imposition of sales tax in the merged dis­tricts and PATA, saying taxes should only be imposed after providing those areas with de­velopment and public services comparable to the rest of the country. He reaffirmed support for all measures aimed at pro­tecting the province’s rights and public interests, including the provincial government’s stance on the issue.

The Governor also called for the announcement of a new National Finance Commis­sion (NFC) Award, saying that the seventh NFC Award had been finalized in 2010 and no new award had since been an­nounced. He urged that meet­ings of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) be held every 90 days in accordance with the Constitution.

The Governor said the annual allocation of Rs4 billion for 36 public sector universities in the province was insufficient even to meet salary expenditures. He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had immense talent, particu­larly in sports, and assured that the Governor House would re­main open for youth, students, athletes and investors.

Governor proposes to set up KPPSC regional offices 

in remote areas

Governor Khyber Pakh­tunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi has written to Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, proposing the es­tablishment of regional offic­es of the Khyber Pakhtunkh­wa Public Service Commission (KPPSC) in Dera Ismail Khan, Malakand and Abbottabad to improve access to recruitment services for candidates from remote parts of the province.

In his letter, the Governor said the KPPSC currently op­erates only from its headquar­ters in Peshawar, forcing candi­dates from southern districts, Malakand, Hazara and other far-flung areas to travel long distances for written examina­tions, interviews and other re­cruitment processes.

He said the proposed region­al offices would reduce travel and accommodation costs, par­ticularly for women and candi­dates from remote areas, while ensuring equal access to public sector employment opportuni­ties across the province.

The Governor suggested that the project could be im­plemented in phases by utiliz­ing existing government build­ings and infrastructure with minimum financial burden. He said the initiative would im­prove access to KPPSC servic­es, strengthen transparency and merit-based recruitment, promote equal representation from all regions of the province and bring public services clos­er to the people.

Kundi also referred to the successful regional office mod­els of the Punjab and Sindh public service commissions, saying similar facilities in Khy­ber Pakhtunkhwa would great­ly benefit job seekers across the province.

ISLAMABAD  –  Pakistan’s Drug Regulatory Au­thority (DRAP) has issued ur­gent medical product alerts after the World Health Organiza­tion (WHO) warned about coun­terfeit blood cancer medicines circulating in the market.

The WHO identified fake ver­sions of Jakavi tablets and Darzalex injections, prompting DRAP to ban the sale, distribution and use of the affected batches. The counterfeit products were falsely labelled as being manu­factured by Novartis Switzerland and Janssen Cilag Belgium, both of which confirmed the batches are not genuine.

The affected batches include Darzalex 400mg (Batch STV01), Darzalex 100mg (Batch MYS7381), Jakavi 20mg (Batch AVT50), Jakavi 15mg (Batch FNR06) and Jakavi 10mg (Batch SGL04).

DRAP said laboratory testing found the counterfeit medicines failed to meet quality standards, with the authenticity of active ingredients unverified and unre­lated particles detected in fake Darzalex injections. The regu­lator warned that using these products could pose serious, po­tentially life-threatening risks to patients.

ISLAMABAD  –  The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), in collaboration with the Youth Forum for Kashmir (YFK), yesterday hosted a seminar titled ‘Youm-e-Il­haq-e-Pakistan: Revisiting History, Shaping the Fu­ture,’ where speakers reaffirmed Pakistan’s long­standing support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and called for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

The event, organised by the India Study Centre (ISC) at ISSI to commemorate Youm-e-Ilhaq-e-Pakistan, was attended by Chairman of the Parliamentary Com­mittee on Kashmir Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon as the chief guest, while former Azad Jammu and Kash­mir president Ambassador Masood Khan participated as the guest of honour. Newly appointed ISSI Director General Ambassador Moin-ul-Haque, Kashmiri lead­er and human rights activist Shamim Shawl, young Kashmiri scholar Saud Sultan and ISC Director Dr Khurram Abbas also addressed the gathering.

In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Moin-ul-Haque described Youm-e-Ilhaq-e-Pakistan as a sym­bol of the enduring relationship between Pakistan and the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He recalled that on July 19, 1947, the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference adopted a resolution expressing its desire for the Muslim-majority state to accede to Pakistan.

He said the developments following the partition of the subcontinent transformed what could have been a peaceful political transition into one of the world’s longest unresolved disputes. Reaffirming Pakistan’s position, he said Islamabad has consistently advocat­ed dialogue, diplomacy and a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute, stressing that durable peace in South Asia remains closely linked to its just resolu­tion.

Addressing the seminar, Rana Muhammad Qa­sim Noon said July 19 occupies a significant place in the history of the Kashmir freedom movement, de­scribing the 1947 resolution as a clear expression of the political aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

He said Pakistan continued to stand in solidari­ty with the people of Kashmir and reiterated Islam­abad’s support for their struggle. He also urged the international community to take notice of what he described as continuing human rights concerns, de­mographic changes and restrictions on freedoms in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.

Guest of honour Ambassador Masood Khan said the issue of Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan was closely linked with the ideological foundations of Pakistan. Referring to the period preceding partition, he said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had aligned them­selves with the vision of joining Pakistan.

He also referred to the United Nations Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, saying they recognised the right of the Kashmiri people to determine their future through a plebiscite.

Earlier, Dr Khurram Abbas said Kashmiris across the world observe July 19 each year as Youm-e-Ilh­aq-e-Pakistan, describing it as the point at which the people of Jammu and Kashmir expressed their desire to join Pakistan. He said the historical geographical, cultural, religious and economic links between the two made that aspiration a natural choice.

Human rights activist Shamim Shawl paid tribute to the Kashmiri leadership of 1947 and highlighted what she described as the hardships faced by Kash­miris living under Indian administration. She re­ferred to the detention of political leaders, the use of pellet guns and restrictions imposed following the killing of Burhan Wani, while calling greater interna­tional attention to the human rights situation in the region.

Young scholar Saud Sultan questioned India’s ac­count of the accession process, citing the work of his­torians who have challenged the validity of the In­strument of Accession.

He urged young people to engage in responsible re­search, advocacy and digital outreach to counter mis­information with credible evidence and strengthen informed international discourse on Kashmir.

In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood said the Muslim Conference’s decision in favour of accession to Pakistan had been taken be­fore Pakistan’s independence and was based on re­ligious, geographical, cultural and economic linkag­es between Kashmir and Pakistan. He reiterated that the final status of Jammu and Kashmir should ulti­mately be determined in accordance with the wish­es of its people.

SHANGLA  –  Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Junaid Akbar Khan on Monday de­clared that the release of former prime minister Imran Khan re­mained the party’s sole political objective, saying PTI leaders and workers were prepared to make every sacrifice to achieve that goal.

Addressing the Imran Khan Re­lease Workers’ Convention in the Dheri area of Shangla dis­trict, Junaid Akbar said the par­ty would not be intimidated by ar­rests, criminal cases or political pressure. He maintained that PTI would continue its political move­ment through constitutional and democratic means.

A large number of party workers and leaders attended the conven­tion, including PTI Central Spokes­person and former provincial min­ister Shaukat Yousafzai, Provincial Deputy General Secretary Nawaz Mehmood Khan, PTI Malakand Division President Fazal Hakim Khan, senior PTI leader Fawad Ali Noor, Insaf Youth Wing KP Gen­eral Secretary Shafqat Ayaz, Haji Sadeedur Rehman, Abdul Moula Khan and other provincial and lo­cal office-bearers.

In his address, Junaid Akbar said he had spent the past three dec­ades struggling for the rights of the people under the PTI platform. He claimed that numerous First Information Reports (FIRs) had been registered against him and that he had even been declared a proclaimed offender, but had nev­er compromised on his political stance.

He claimed that Aleema Khan, sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, had been holding a protest outside Adiala Jail for several months and alleged that party workers were not even being allowed to meet their leader.

The PTI provincial president al­leged that influential quarters had placed individuals in key state in­stitutions who, according to him, were undermining the public man­date. Despite these circumstances, he said, the party would continue its struggle for constitutional su­premacy, democracy and the rule of law.

Junaid Akbar announced that an important PTI meeting would be held on July 22 under the chair­manship of the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to finalize the party’s future protest move­ment and political strategy.

Speaking on the occasion, PTI Central Spokesperson Shaukat Yousafzai said the movement launched from Dheri, Shangla, would become an important mile­stone in the nationwide campaign seeking Imran Khan’s release.

Congratulating party workers on what he described as a successful convention, Yousafzai said PTI re­mained committed to democratic values, constitutional governance and the supremacy of the law.

Peshawar  –  Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sohail Afridi, met with the Country Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) Ms Anita Hirsh, at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad.

The meeting focused on matters of mutual interest, with particular emphasis on strengthening cooperation and expanding the strategic partnership between the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the World Food Programme.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further enhancing collaboration in priority sectors. The dignitaries held detailed discussions on food security, climate change, stunting, and the issue of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi underscored that the Chashma Right Bank Lift Canal Project is indispensable for bringing 295000 of acres of land under cultivation, increasing agricultural productivity, and strengthening food security across the province.

He noted that the provincial government allocates funding for the project every year under its Annual Development Programme (ADP) but the Federal government has yet to provide its committed share of financing.

The Chief Minister said that the provincial government is making substantial investments in irrigation canals, tube wells, and other agricultural initiatives to enhance food security. He added that significant investments have also been made in afforestation and forest conservation.

He noted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa carries more than 45 percent of Pakistan’s forests, with forest cover extending over approximately 26 percent of the province’s total land area.

Highlighting the growing impact of climate change, the Chief Minister said that flash floods and cloudburst incidents in the province’s mountainous regions are causing extensive damage to livelihoods, infrastructure, and the local economy. He informed the delegation that the provincial government has disbursed more than Rs15 billion in compensation to flood-affected communities in Buner, Shangla, Swat, and Bajaur. He emphasized that greater investment in green climate initiatives and early warning systems is essential to strengthening climate resilience.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the long-term impact of terrorism on the merged districts, noting that both infrastructure and local economies have suffered significant losses. He observed that districts dependent on cross-border trade continue to face severe economic hardship due to border closures.

Referring specifically to Tirah, he said that 24,000 families had been displaced, while access to livelihoods, healthcare, and education remains a major challenge. He further noted that the federal government had committed to providing Rs17 billion for temporarily displaced persons (TDPs) from the merged districts, a commitment that has yet to be fulfilled.

Despite the absence of federal support, the provincial government continues to allocate substantial resources to provide humanitarian assistance and essential services to displaced communities.

Speaking on the occasion, WFP Country Director Ms Anita Hirsh reaffirmed the World Food Programme’s commitment to working closely with the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to advance food security, improve nutrition outcomes, and strengthen climate resilience across the province.