Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s Message on the Occasion of Youm-e-Ilhaq-e-Pakistan (Kashmir...

The four first information reports (FIRs) were lodged at Multan’s Makhdoom Rasheed Police Station on July 17 under Section 462J (interference, improper use or tampering with electric meter by domestic consumer, etc) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

One case each was filed against Hashmi and his sons-in-law Shahid Bahar, Zahid and Shahzeb, against whose names the electricity meters had been registered.

According to the FIRs, copies of which are available with Dawn, they were lodged at the complaint of Multan Electric Power Company Limited’s (Mepco’s) Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Mohammad Bilal.

The complaints, phrased in a near-identical manner, claimed that Mepco’s team checked the consumer’s site and found that the consumer was “stealing electricity by inserting a loop in the terminal of the company’s power meter”.

The four electricity metres, whose numbers were also stated in the FIRs, were seized by Mepco.

The FIR against Hashmi said the alleged power theft by him had caused losses worth Rs249,100 to Mepco.

Similarly, other FIRs claimed Mepco had faced losses worth Rs248,400 due to Shahid Bahar’s actions, another Rs245,600 in damages linked to Zahid’s meter, and Rs247,600 of losses due to power theft by Shahzeb.

Hashmi’s grandson Qasim confirmed to Dawn that none of the family members had been arrested as yet.

In a post on X on July 18, Hashmi confirmed that he and his sons-in-law had been booked in cases.

“They can arrest me; I would not even seek bail,” he wrote, terming the cases as “allegations”.

“I am sitting in my house; come and arrest me. Neither will I hide anywhere nor will I flee anywhere,” he added.

Confirming the visit, the Foreign Office (FO) said it would be Anand’s first trip to Pakistan since assuming office.

The FO said the visiting dignitary and Dar will hold bilateral talks “covering the entire spectrum of Pakistan-Canada relations”.

“The discussions will focus on strengthening cooperation in trade and investment, education, and people-to-people exchanges. The two ministers will also exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest,” the FO said.

It added that Anand will also call on the leadership of Pakistan. According to GAC, Anand is also expected to meet with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

“Canada-Pakistan relations are underpinned by extensive people-to-people ties, with more than 300,000 Canadians of Pakistani origin in Canada and approximately 20,000 Canadians in Pakistan,” GAC noted.

Meanwhile, the FO stated that both Pakistan and Canada “maintain cordial bilateral relations anchored in close people-to-people ties enriched by the vibrant Pakistani diaspora in Canada”.

“This visit underscores the shared commitment of both countries to expand mutual cooperation,” it highlighted.

Last month, Canada hosted the second round of negotiations toward a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement with Pakistan.

In February this year, Pakistan and Canada emphasised the importance of cooperation in trade and investment in the sixth round of Bilateral Political Consultations held in Islamabad.

Following her visit to Pakistan, the Canadian foreign minister will leave for the Philippines to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The Afghan Taliban used heavy weapons, mortars and other arms to target border posts, after which Pakistani security forces responded immediately and forcefully, targeting Afghan Taliban border posts, mortar positions and defensive checkpoints with both light and heavy weapons, including artillery, security sources said.

Pakistani security forces maintained complete control over border areas while delivering a strong response to the cross-border aggression, the security sources said, as a result of which the Afghan Taliban were forced to abandon multiple posts and flee.

The border situation is being continuously monitored, and security forces are fully prepared and on alert to issue an immediate and decisive response to any act of provocation by the enemy, security sources said.

On the night of February 26, following unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban from across the border, Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against terrorist hideouts.

On April 2/3, security forces foiled an attempt by the Afghan Taliban and terrorists to attack a border post in KP’s Ghulam Khan Sector, in which 37 of the attackers were killed and more than 80 were injured.

Providing an update then, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had said 796 terrorists and Afghan Taliban operatives had been killed while over 1,043 had been injured since Operation Ghazab lil-Haq was launched.

Later that month, security forces destroyed gun positions of Afghan Taliban involved in unprovoked firing at civilians in South Waziristan, injuring three, security sources said.

On April 28, mortar shells fired from across the Pak-Afghan border injured five people — four children and a woman — in the Angoor Adda village of South Waziristan, security sources said.

Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban administration in Kabul to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil that are used for attacks in Pakistan. Officials say those appeals have gone unheeded.