The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) by-election results for 12 wards were declared today, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerging as the leading performer by winning seven seats. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured three wards, while Congress and the Left picked up one seat each.

BJP maintains edge in civic bypolls

Voting was conducted on November 30 across 12 wards, nine of which were earlier represented by BJP councillors. The remaining three were held by AAP. This round of bypolls witnessed a voter turnout of 38.51%, lower compared to 50.47% recorded in the 2022 civic elections.

The counting process was carried out at 10 centres — including Kanjhawala, Pitampura, Civil Lines, Rouse Avenue, Dwarka, Najafgarh, Gole Market, Bharat Nagar, Pushp Vihar, and Mandawali — as shared by the State Election Commission.

Ward-wise highlights

• AAP’s Anil won the Mundka ward.
• AAP’s Ram Swaroop Kanojia won Dakshin Puri.
• Congress’ Suresh Choudhary secured a win in Sangam Vihar-A with a comfortable margin.
• BJP’s Anita Jain clinched Shalimar Bagh with 6,742 votes.
• BJP’s Suman Kumar Gupta won Chandni Chowk with 7,825 votes.
• AIFB’s Mohammad Imran led in Chandani Mahal, adding the lone Left victory.

With all results declared, the final tally stands at: BJP 7, AAP 3, Congress 1, AIFB 1.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has alleged that he is being “mentally tortured” in prison and held General Asim Munir responsible for his continued isolation, according to his sister Dr Uzma Khanum, who met him inside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail for 20 minutes.

Sister says Khan “angry” over isolation

Dr Khanum told reporters that her brother is allowed out of his cell only briefly and has no means of communication with the outside world. She said Khan expressed anger over the conditions in which he is being held, stating he remains confined all day with no access to his family or party members.

She also said Imran Khan directly blamed General Asim Munir — now seen as Pakistan’s most powerful authority, having consolidated military control and secured lifetime immunity for top officials — for the treatment he is receiving in custody.

Meeting follows weeks of denied access

The rare meeting came after weeks of barred family visits, which fuelled speculation about Khan’s health. His sisters earlier claimed they were assaulted when they sought permission to meet him, while his sons publicly alleged that jail authorities were concealing “something irreversible” about his condition.

One of his sons, Kasim Khan, told media that despite a court order for weekly family meetings, they had no direct or verified contact.

Family members also said prison authorities repeatedly refused entry to Imran Khan’s personal doctor.

Rumours and protests intensify

Before Tuesday’s meeting, neither his relatives nor his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf colleagues had seen him for over 25 days, triggering widespread rumours of his death — speculation that officials did not counter with proof of life even as pressure mounted on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government.

PTI’s Senator Khurram Zeeshan claimed Khan was being kept in isolation to force him into leaving Pakistan and accused authorities of withholding photos or videos due to fears over his influence.

The situation has sparked protests across Islamabad and Rawalpindi, including demonstrations outside the Islamabad High Court.

In jail since August 2023

Imran Khan, the 72-year-old former cricketer and World Cup-winning captain, has been incarcerated since August 2023. Rumours about his wellbeing first circulated from social media accounts in Afghanistan, at a time when both countries have been locked in military tensions over a border dispute.

Amid the growing political storm over the Centre’s directive asking mobile phone makers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on all new devices, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has clarified that the app is not mandatory and users are free to delete it if they choose.

Minister says app is optional, aims to protect users

Responding to concerns flagged by the Opposition over alleged surveillance risks, Scindia said users will have full control over the app. He compared it to other pre-installed apps that users can choose to keep or remove.

“Don’t activate it. If you want to keep it in your phone, keep it. If you want to delete it, do so,” he said, adding that the app will remain dormant if not used.

The minister emphasised that Sanchar Saathi is designed to safeguard citizens against cyber fraud. “This is a matter of customer protection. There is nothing mandatory. If you do not want to register it, don’t. And if you want to delete it, delete it,” he said, noting that many people are unaware such a tool exists.

Opposition flags privacy concerns, calls move “surveillance”

Congress leaders have accused the government of enabling intrusive monitoring.

• KC Venugopal said the decision was “beyond unconstitutional”, citing the fundamental right to privacy.
  
• Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called Sanchar Saathi a “snooping app”, saying citizens’ privacy was under threat.
  
• Priyanka Chaturvedi termed it “another surveillance moment”.
  
• Karti Chidambaram alleged the move mirrored actions in authoritarian regimes.
  

Government rejects criticism, cites rising cyber fraud

Countering Opposition remarks, Scindia said the government was attempting to clear misconceptions. He stated that cyber fraud worth ₹22,800 crore took place in 2024, and Sanchar Saathi was developed to help citizens report fraud, track lost phones, and prevent misuse of telecom resources.

“When we are giving Sanchar Saathi to the common citizen, they are saying it is Pegasus. We cannot show truth to those who don’t want to see it,” Scindia said.