PTI leader Shahbaz Gill, who has been arrested by the Islamabad police on charges of sedition, has been declared “fit” as the medical board sought the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), Islamabad to discharge the accused from the infirmary.

• At least four people died because of the coronavirus over the last 24 hours, the National Institute of Health reported. Around 510 virus cases were reported as the government urged people to get vaccines.

• Former prime minister Imran Khan has advised the establishment to review its policies while addressing a seminar of journalists. “With power come responsibility,” he said and alleged that efforts were made to break his party and bring back ousted PM Nawaz Sharif. “Shahbaz Gill should not have made such comments. Gill is being asked about my meal,” PTI chief Imran said.

• PM Shehbaz Sharif slammed his predecessor and claimed that Imran confused people by distorting facts. “This is what self-righteousness does to you: you consider yourself holy & above reproach despite flawed conduct in office. You play mind games & insult their intelligence through deceitful ways. Niazi's speech today was nothing but this,” he said in a tweet.

• Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday had a one-on-one meeting with US Central Command (Centcom) Commander General Michael E Kurilla at the GHQ and discussed matters of mutual interest, the armed forces media wing said.

• “Matters of mutual interest, regional security situation, and stability, defence and security cooperation particularly military to military ties were discussed during the meeting,” the Inter-Services Public Relations said.

• The Senate session would begin at 10:30 today (Friday). The upper house of Parliament issued 11-point agenda for the session.

• Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said told Senate on Thursday that Gill could not escape from an investigation by crying foul over apparent torture. PPP’s Sherry Rehman demanded of the PTI to apologise to the nation for purportedly telling lies.

• PTI leaders in Senate said the investigation should be conducted on “saying wrong things” and distanced from Gill’s statements. But they also criticised Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah’s apparent actions. Fawad Chaudhry claimed that whatever Gill said had also been said by people in the past.

• The Election Commission of Pakistan has ordered the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lawyer to provide the documents in the reference seeking the disqualification of party chief Imran Khan for hiding Toshakhana gifts and adjourned the hearing of the case till August 22.

• The MQM-P has warned of leaving the coalition government because of the “non-seriousness” of the political leaders on the agreement signed with the party.

• The government has decided an end the ban on luxury items, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said. It will instead put taxes on such items in order to discourage imports.

• Five members of a family, which was going to Hyderabad from Karachi, were still missing. Bodies of two children have been recovered.

• Heavy rains spell has for now ended in Karachi, the Pakistan Meteorological Department said. It has forecast showers in other cities of Sindh and Balochistan.

• Mohammad Rizwan and Agha Salman made unbeaten half-centuries as Pakistan eased to a seven-wicket win over the Netherlands in the second one-day international in Rotterdam on Thursday to complete a series victory. Pakistan captain Babar Azam scored 57 off 65 balls before Rizwan and Salman led the tourists home in their pursuit of 187 with 16.2 overs to spare.