♦ Chief Justice (CJ) of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Athar Minallah has said he does not believe in judicial activism; adds he has also to see that if leaked audio of former CJP Saqib Nisar is investigated now, it may open a floodgate; tomorrow anybody can come up with a video or audio and ask for its investigation; this will set a bad precedent; furthermore, who has the capability of recording the audiotape of Saqib Nisar; even if the video is genuine, then who has its original clip; IHC CJ seeks legal opinion from the attorney general of Pakistan on the formation of a commission to probe leaked audio of the former CJP.

♦ Male and female Tiktokers in Karachi are on the hit-list of criminals; suspects arrested by Shahrai Noor Jahan police have confessed to having robbed more than 25 Tiktokers of valuables; they have also admitted snatching cash from food delivery boys as well as online car drivers.

♦ Covid-19’s new variant, Omicron, continues to spread its tentacles as 13 more cases have been reported from the Netherlands; three people have been diagnosed with the virus in the UK; two people have contracted Omicron in Canada; apart from that cases of the new variant have been reported from Israel, Germany, Italy and other countries. 

♦ Japan and Morocco have decided to close their borders to visitors from the outside world; World Health Organisation (WHO) shows concern over the travel restrictions imposed on several South African countries; President of South Africa appeals to the world to lift restrictions; UK calls the emergency meeting of health ministers of G-7 countries.

♦ Coronavirus claims the lives of nine more people in Pakistan; 176 fresh cases were reported in one day; the ratio of the coronavirus positive cases stands at 0.59 per cent; the ratio of positive cases in Balochistan drops to zero.

♦ Two people die from dengue fever in Lahore during the last 24 hours; 74 fresh cases were reported from different parts of Punjab; 60 cases were reported from the provincial capital Lahore; four from Rawalpindi, three cases from Kasur and four from Islamabad.

♦ Inflation increases unchecked as the prices of ghee and cooking oil are up by Rs5 per litre; grade-II cooking oil now costs Rs365 and ghee Rs350; soaring prices make people more worried.

♦ The US dollar’s upward trajectory continues as the currency becomes 56 paisas more expensive in the interbank market to reach Rs176.5.

♦ Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Shehbaz Sharif has termed the ‘mini budget’ a death warrant for the inflation-hit people; prices of petrol, electricity and gas will go up further; increase in taxes will be catastrophic for the country’s economy; millions of people will jobs as a result; vows to face the mini-budget and the bills passed at the joint session of the parliament manfully; adds the nation’s emancipation lies in showing the government the door.

♦ Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Abdul Qayyum Niazi pays his respects at the Quaid’s mausoleum in Karachi; lays floral wreath; offers Fatiha; pens down his comments in the visitors’ book.

♦ Country’s senior journalist Muhammad Ziauddin passes away; his funeral prayers will be offered at Media Town Islamabad Society’s graveyard after the Asr prayers; National Press Club, Islamabad announces three-day of mourning; PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Shehbaz Sharif, Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry and others have offered their condolences.

♦ The Islamabad High Court summons Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari and secretary interior in journalist Mudassir Naroo recovery case; chief justice remarks he has ordered the government to arrange the meeting of journalist’s family with the prime minister and the cabinet; says had a son of an influential person been kidnapped, you would have reacted differently; says involuntary disappearances of citizens is a heinous crime. 

♦ The Sindh High Court expresses indignation over not razing the illegal structure built in Karachi’s Nazimabad area; issues contempt of court notices to Sindh Building Control Authority DG Saleem Raza Khuhro; director Karachi Central and builder Aqib Ali.

♦ The gas crisis in Karachi further deteriorates as it is not even sufficient for cooking food; the gas supply to the CNG stations in the city is finally restored after 24 hours.

♦ Air pollution continues to engulf Pakistan; Lahore again remained the most polluted city in the world 

♦ Three killed and nine got injured in a coaster and minibus collision on National Highway in Karachi

♦ Pakistan set up a target of 202 runs to win the first Test against Bangladesh; the hosts were all out for 157 in their second innings as Shaheen Shah Afridi completed a five-wicket haul

♦ Australian Test great Shane Warne badly bruised in a motorbike accident and could have broken foot 

♦ Hollywood’s animated movie “Encanto” tops North American box Office