A challenge to the Lahore Zoo’s privatization has been submitted to the Lahore High Court (LHC).

Advocate Azhar Siddique filed the petition with the Judicial Activism Panel. The petition names the Forest Department, the Wildlife Department, and the Punjab government as respondents.

It made the case that many people go to the zoo for enjoyment and education, and that some of them have even adopted birds and animals. But today, without any legal explanation, the zoo has been transferred to a private corporation.

The petitioner claimed that by charging outrageous prices for parking, admission, and zoo rides, the private corporation is taking advantage of the tourists.

A request has been made to the high court to declare the Lahore Zoo’s privatization void.

The petition follows the awarding of a Rs 500 million contract for the Lahore Zoo to a private business. The companies will oversee parking, tickets for admission, rides, and other zoo services.

Following the privatisation, the entry ticket fee was set at Rs 100.

Details of 59 cases against former Punjabi Prime Minister Imran Khan, mostly related to the May 9 occurrences, were revealed in a report filed with the Lahore High Court (LHC).

The report states:

• 59 cases registered: Imran Khan has been mentioned in 59 Punjabi cases overall.
• 26 arrests: Of these cases, 26 have resulted in his arrest.
• 18 post-arrest bails granted: In 18 cases, Imran Khan has been granted post-arrest bail by the courts.
• Two acquittals: In two instances, he was found not guilty.
• FIR nominations: Of the 59 cases, he was directly named in 21 FIRs, while 38 cases included his name after supplementary statements.
• Pending investigations: Investigations remain incomplete in 9 cases.
• Charge sheets: One case has a complete charge sheet, however 48 cases have incomplete charge sheets.
• The ongoing legal proceedings and the differing status of the cases against Imran Khan in the province were noted in the report.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to working constructively with all UNSC members and with the wider UN membership as the country begins a two-year term as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the years 2025–2026.

Speaking at a reception he threw for the heads of the UNSC member states’ resident missions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the deputy prime minister declared that Pakistan would endeavor to heal divisions, promote unity, and fulfill the UNSC’s mandate in line with the goals and tenets of the UN Charter.

He claimed that after being elected for the eighth time, Pakistan offered a wealth of expertise and a steadfast dedication tothe principles and purposes of the UN Charter.

Ishaq Dar emphasized Pakistan’s contributions to global peace and security, particularly its proactive participation in UN peacekeeping and peacebuilding initiatives across the globe.

The deputy prime minister emphasized that Pakistan was eager to find a fair and amicable solution to the issues on the UN Security Council’s agenda.

“As a Council member, Pakistan will support effective UN peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts, fight terrorism in all of its forms and manifestations, and oppose the unilateral and illegal use or threat of force.”
Additionally, he thanked every UN member state for their overwhelming support in choosing Pakistan to serve on the UN Security Council.