Two more senior police officers have been added to the committee investigating the murder of businessman Mir Raza Ali, taking the total number of members to nine.

Inspector Ghulam Nabi Afridi and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Hanif have been added to the investigating committee investigating the Mir Raza Ali case.

Police said Inspector Afridi was included on the committee’s own initiative, while DSP Hanif was brought in with the consent of the victim’s family.

Police officials said Inspector Afridi had previously investigated and solved several complex and high-profile cases.

DSP Hanif, meanwhile, has expertise in geofencing and other technical and digital aspects of criminal investigations.

Investigators have also deployed personnel at the crime scene and the relevant guesthouse until the investigation is completed, officials said.

The move is intended to ensure that evidence at the locations is preserved.

Meanwhile, forensic reports on bottles and soil samples taken into police custody from the crime scene are still awaited. Investigators say the findings will help determine the next course of the investigation.

Rani Mukerji received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Australia’s La Trobe University.

According to the statement from La Trobe University, the Bollywood actress Rani Mukerji has recently been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters by Australia’s La Trobe University for three decades of work in Indian cinema and her off-screen contributions. Her work was separately honored with a special citation for acting excellence by the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), which cited her three decades of memorable roles and the international reach of her work.

She is the second Indian film figure to receive the distinction, after superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s honor in 2019.

Mukerji further mentioned, “Receiving this honorary doctorate from La Trobe University is one of the most humbling moments of my life. For someone who has always believed that films can change hearts before they change minds, this recognition means more than I can express”.

Khan’s doctorate marked his charitable work and standing in Indian film, and came with a Ph.D. scholarship set up in his name at the university. Mukerji’s own citation draws on similar ground: her screen career and the causes she has backed alongside it.

Mukerji said her film choices have always come down to what moved her personally, first stories that needed telling, that could inspire and empower. Every artist, she said, carries a responsibility beyond performance. “We quietly become ambassadors of our culture,” she said.

On the impact of her work, she said, “If my films have helped even one person understand India and its women a little better… If they have encouraged dialogue… If they have created empathy… Then I feel I have fulfilled a responsibility far greater than simply being an actor.”

Mukerji was separately honored with a special citation for acting excellence by the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), which cited her three decades of memorable roles and the international reach of her work. This year’s IFFM, running Aug. 13-23, gathers Indian filmmakers and films from around the country as part of its wider program.

Her filmography includes “Black,” “Hum Tum,” “Yuva,” “Bunty Aur Babli,” “No One Killed Jessica,” “Hichki,” the “Mardaani” franchise and “Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway.”

On the IFFM honor, Mukerji said, “When I entered the Indian film industry as a young girl, I never imagined that one day my films and the characters that I have been fortunate enough to play would take me across oceans and that people in a beautiful country like Australia would embrace me with so much warmth.

Entertaining people across the world with my cinema is the greatest gift this profession has given me. Australia has always welcomed me & Indian cinema with open arms. It has become a place where cultures meet through storytelling, where films remind us that emotions don’t need passports and where love, laughter and hope speak a language we all understand.”

Mukerji said that the real story of a performance begins only once it reaches an audience, not when it’s shot in front of a camera. “To know that for three decades my films, my characters and my voice have traveled so far from home and still found a place in your lives is incredibly humbling,” she said. “I’ve been fortunate to play women who laughed loudly, loved deeply, fought fearlessly and never stopped believing in themselves. In many ways, every character has changed me a little. They’ve made me a better actor, but more importantly, they’ve made me a better human being.”

Spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz took the key wicket of Steve Smith to reduce Australia to 161-4 after the third day of the first Test in Darwin on Saturday and move Bangladesh closer to a historic win.

At the close Australia trailed the visitors by 67 runs in their second innings, with Cameron Green on 43 and Alex Carey 19.

After being dismissed for 426 shortly after lunch, Bangladesh seamer Hasan Mahmud stunned Australia when he claimed both openers cheaply.

Hasan, who took a career-best 6-55 in the first innings, bowled Jake Weatherald (0) and Travis Head (17) in identical fashion, both chopping on to their stumps.

On a good batting strip, Marnus Labuschagne and Smith initially steadied the ship.

Labuschagne, who has been out of form and seen his place in the team increasingly come into question, eased to 31 before playing over the top of a straight ball from left-arm spinner Taijul Islam and being bowled.

Smith, so often Australia’s saviour, batted sensibly but with the score on 122 he got a leading edge to off-spinner Mehidy and chipped it straight back to the bowler.

“The way we showed character and the way we played for the last two or three days was outstanding,” visiting captain Najmul Hossain Shanto told Fox Sports.

“We are taking it session by session, focusing on the process and not the outcome.”

Earlier, Mehidy did the damage with the bat, scoring a valuable half-century in Bangladesh’s first innings.

After Bangladesh were well beaten by a Cricket Australia XI in their only warm-up match, including being bowled out for 54 in the second innings, many expected this Test to be an easy Australia victory.

But the unfancied visitors bowled the hosts out for 198 on the first day and then showed great dedication with the bat to keep the home side in the field for 138 overs.

Mehidy shielded the lower order brilliantly in the morning session to frustrate a tiring Australian attack.

When he was finally dismissed for 65 by Josh Hazlewood shortly after lunch, he had helped put his team into a strong position halfway through the match.

Bangladesh are attempting to win a Test in Australia for the first time, at the third attempt.

Bangladesh frustrate hosts

After Bangladesh resumed the day on 351-6, fast bowler Hazlewood took two wickets in the first hour to give the hosts hope of wrapping up the tail relatively quickly.

But Mehidy’s outstanding batting allowed Bangladesh to defy the Australian bowlers on a typically hot and humid Darwin morning.

They were helped by some poor Australian catching, including an almost inexplicable miss by Smith, who got under a mistimed pull from Taskin Ahmed in the deep but dropped the simplest of chances.

Two balls later Mehidy miscued a pull shot only for a diving Head to spill a more difficult chance.

After defying the Australians for over an hour in the final session Friday, Hasan lasted just four overs of the first session Saturday before being trapped leg before by Hazlewood, adding one run to his overnight score of 13.

Taijul Islam made a breezy 17 before becoming Hazlewood’s 299th wicket in Tests when he guided a ball straight to Cameron Green at gully.

With Mehidy shielding Taskin, Bangladesh pushed the lead past 200 and kept the Australian bowlers toiling for another two hours.

Hazlewood, the pick of the attack with 6-89, reached 300 wickets in Tests when he had Mehidy caught behind by Alex Carey to leave Bangladesh 418-9.

He got his 301st when Number 11 Ebadot Hossain fell the same way for seven.

Shangla  –  Internal divisions within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Shangla have surfaced openly, with rival statements and social-media exchanges fuelling concern among party workers over the organisation’s electoral prospects.

PTI has emerged as a significant political force in the district, with its candidates securing strong positions in previous general elections and giving tough competition to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidates in several constituencies.

Party workers and political observers fear, however, that persistent factionalism could undermine its electoral performance in the next general elections. The differences reportedly involve political influence, organisational matters and the allocation of political space among local leaders and workers.

Some founding workers claim they have been sidelined despite remaining loyal to the party during difficult periods. They say those who stood by PTI when it faced political challenges should be given greater recognition and organisational responsibility.

Meanwhile, supporters of rival factions have become increasingly active on social media, defending their respective leaders while trading allegations over development schemes, incomplete projects, solar initiatives and other matters. Allegations concerning incomplete schemes in Gorband and elsewhere, as well as alleged irregularities in the distribution of the Ramazan package, have also generated discussion among workers and residents.

These allegations have not been independently verified. Workers and members of the public have called for any complaints to be investigated impartially, arguing that transparent inquiries would establish the facts and prevent political disputes from further damaging the party’s credibility.

One faction has criticised the district president, while another has publicly defended him. Other leaders and workers are closely watching the confrontation as they assess their positions ahead of the next electoral contest.

Political observers say the situation presents a significant test for PTI’s organisation in Shangla. They believe the party could retain its influence if its leadership succeeds in reconciling rival factions, restoring organisational discipline and bringing disgruntled workers back into the fold.

They warn, however, that continued infighting and public allegations could divide the party’s vote and create an opportunity for rival political forces in the next general elections. Unity and effective local coordination, they said, will be crucial to PTI’s ability to preserve its electoral standing in the district.

Peshawar  –  Peshawar awoke on Friday to a sea of green and white as families, students and government officials gathered at flag-hoisting ceremonies to celebrate Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day with patriotic fervour.

Among them was seven-year-old Ismail Khan, dressed in green and white, a small Pakistani flag in his hand and the national colours painted on his cheek. Holding his father’s hand, he watched the national flag rise at the Civil Secretariat as the police band played a patriotic tune. For adults, it was a familiar Independence Day ritual. For Ismail, it was the fulfilment of a long-held childhood wish.

“Seeing flag-hoisting ceremonies and the police musical band was my long-wished-for dream,” he said, dancing with excitement. “A big thank you to my Papa for fulfilling my childhood dream today.”

Around him, schoolchildren sang patriotic songs, including Dil Dil Pakistan and Sohni Dharti Allah Rakay, while waving miniature flags. Similar scenes unfolded at Governor House, Police Lines, Railway Station, Islamia College Peshawar, University of Peshawar and the offices of the commissioner and deputy commissioner.

Flag-hoisting ceremonies were also held at deputy commissioner offices across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the seven merged districts.

By midday, green and white dominated Peshawar’s streets. Flags fluttered from rooftops and public buildings, while cars and motorcycles carried smaller flags. Children in national colours moved through bazaars wearing badges and carrying colourful Independence Day accessories.

At Qissa Khwani Bazaar, shops displayed wristbands, caps, scarves, horns, sunglasses, brooches, stickers and decorative pins. For children, selecting an accessory became part of the celebration.

Twelve-year-old Malaika Khan, shopping with her mother, said: “Pakistan is our beautiful homeland and we are proud to be Pakistani. Let’s love our country, respect our elders, help others and work hard to make Pakistan strong and successful.”

Her mother, Sumbul Bibi, said Independence Day should remind parents of their responsibility to raise honest, responsible and compassionate citizens.

Ten-year-old Ibrahim Khan, browsing Independence Day accessories at a nearby shop, offered another reminder that celebration carried responsibilities. He urged children to treat the national flag respectfully and never allow it to be damaged or discarded as waste.

The celebrations also prompted reflection on Pakistan’s history. Former ambassador Manzoorul Haq said the best tribute to those who sacrificed for the country was to follow Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s principles of unity, faith and discipline.

Muhammad Younas Khan, former chairman of the Pakistan Studies Department at Islamia College Peshawar, recalled the Quaid’s visits to the institution in 1936, 1945 and 1948. He particularly highlighted his April 12, 1948 address, in which Jinnah urged students to become dedicated, disciplined and sincere builders of the new nation.

Eight decades later, those words continued to resonate as children gathered beneath the national flag.

As celebrations continued, families decorated homes and vehicles, children rode bicycles adorned with miniature flags and young people posed for photographs in green and white. For Ismail, however, the day remained especially personal: beneath the fluttering flag and the sound of the police band, a childhood dream had finally come true.