Author: newsdesk

  • Physical remand approved for key PTI figures

    Physical remand approved for key PTI figures

    An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has approved the physical remand of six Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and thirty others for violating a new public protest law.

    Lawmakers associated with PTI including Sher Afzal Marwat, Zain Qureshi, Naseem Shah, Amir Dogar, Ahmed Chattha, are charged in connection with the Sanghjani police station case.

    However, PTI bigwig, advocate Shoaib Shaheen is exempted from physical remand, but the court has advised sending him to judicial custody.

    Earlier, the Federal Capital Administration allotted a three-hour time slot from 4 PM to 7 PM for the rally at Sangjani, which was violated by PTI leadership, resulting in a crackdown.

    Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Advocate Shoaib Shaheen, and Sher Afzal Marwat, were arrested from parliament premises.

    However, Islamabad police released barrister Khan after a few hours of detention.

  • Governor Raj in KP? Netizens debate probability

    Governor Raj in KP? Netizens debate probability

    Senior journalist Absar Alam, while talking on Samaa news, warned of increasing political instability and the possibility of Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province after the KP Assembly issued a resolution on September 10, demanding court marital of army officers allegedly involved in politics.

    The resolution demanded that state institutions must remain within their constitutional domain while calling their actions against elected leaders ‘high treason.’

    Absar Alam noted that the political situation is quite concerning. He also stated that a parliamentary party meeting occurred at CM KP’s house in which Ali Amin Gandapur assured provincial ministers that he stands by every word he spoke at the recent PTI’s rally on September 8.

    Absar stated that the ministers assure the CM of their support and vowed that much harsher language would used in future political rallies.

    “This kind of resolution is unprecedented and historically, we have not seen such harsh resolutions. If the situation does not improve then I think that the federal government might consider imposing Governor’s rule in KP,” warned Absar Alam.

  • Pakistan defeats Japan 2-1 in Asian Hockey Championship

    Pakistan defeats Japan 2-1 in Asian Hockey Championship

    Pakistan secured their first victory in the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy with a 2-1 win over Japan in a match played in Hollenbeer, China.

    Nadeem Ahmed scored a goal in the first quarter to give Pakistan the lead, but Japan equalized the match in the second quarter.

    In the 10th minute of the second quarter, Sufyan Khan scored the second goal to give Pakistan the lead, which remained until the end of the match.

    The national team drew the first two matches in the event with South Korea and Malaysia earlier.

    The national team will play against China on September 12 and traditional rivals India on September 14.

  • Earthquake hits in different cities across Pakistan

    Earthquake hits in different cities across Pakistan

    Severe earthquake shocks have been felt on Wednesday afternoon in various districts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and around the federal territory of Islamabad.

    The tremors were felt in Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Kamalia, Khanewal, Bhalwal, Chiniot, Hafizabad, Toba Tek Singh, Gujarat, Sargodha and Jhang. Slight tremors were also felt in Sahiwal, Chichawatani, Borewala, Phulnagar, Hujra Shah Moqim, Shahkot, Sangla Hill, Talagang and Chakwal.

    In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, tremors were felt in Peshawar, North Waziristan, DI Khan, Lakki Marwat, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Lower Dir, Malakand, Tank and Chitral.

    Seismological Centre informed Geo that the tremors of the earthquake were felt at 12:28 PM with a magnitude of 5.7 and a depth of 10 km. The epicentre was near DG Khan.

  • ‘Gandapur apologised instantly for his speech after meeting with intelligence officers,’ discloses Azaz Syed

    ‘Gandapur apologised instantly for his speech after meeting with intelligence officers,’ discloses Azaz Syed

    Chief Minister (CM) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur apologised for his controversial remarks during the Sangjani power show after meeting with intelligence agency officers in Islamabad, veteran journalist Azaz Syed has claimed.

    Speaking on ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath,’ Azaz Syed disclosed that intelligence officers showed concerns over Gandapur’s speech, upon which he apologised instantly.

    Syed ruled out rumours of Gandapur’s arrest, saying that the CM received a call from an intelligence officer to meet in a Constitutional Evenue intelligence office.

    He said, “All mobile phones were taken away before the meeting with officers.”

    “Gandapur was not confident after the meeting was over,” claims Syed

    Earlier, Opposition Leader in National Assembly (NA) Omar Ayub Khan said that the federal government and establishment invited Gandapur to a cup of tea to discuss security concerns in KP; after that, his security staff and mobile phone went out of reach upon which rumours erupted of Gandapur’s possible arrest in Islamabad.

  • Arrest warrants issued for judge who convicted Imran Khan in Toshakhana case

    Arrest warrants issued for judge who convicted Imran Khan in Toshakhana case

    In an interesting development, arrest warrants have been issued for the judge who convicted the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, in the Toshakhana reference. Justice Humayun Dilawar’s arrest warrants have been issued in a land-grabbing case by a judicial magistrate in Bannu, who also issued arrest warrants for the judge’s brother, father, and registrar.

    The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) has been directed to arrest and present the judge in court.

    Special Assistant on Anti-Corruption to KP CM Musaddiq Abbasi confirmed the development saying that the suspect “illegally” registered government land for their housing society.

    Imran Khan was arrested last year from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore soon after being convicted in the Toshakhana reference and given a sentence of three years in jail with a fine of Rs 100,000.

    However, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended Khan’s sentence in the same reference in April 2024.

  • Pakistan joins Asia-wide protests against fossil fuels, demands climate action

    Pakistan joins Asia-wide protests against fossil fuels, demands climate action

    Pakistan will join a wave of protests across Asia on September 13, calling for an end to fossil fuels and a rapid transition to renewable energy. These demonstrations will urge world leaders to take immediate action on climate change ahead of the United Nations Summit of the Future and COP29.

    Pakistan Maholiati Tahaffuz Movement, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum will organize a protest at the Karachi Press Club, highlighting the impact of fossil fuels on coastal communities and the environment.

    The Policy Research Institute for Equitable Development (PRIED) and partners, including Indus Consortium, Alliance for Climate Justice and Clean Energy, and Alternative Law Collective (ALC), will protest at an ADB-funded coal site in Jamshoro, Sindh, demanding an end to coal expansion and a shift to sustainable energy sources.

    In Faisalabad, the Pakistan Labour Qaumi Movement, the Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee, and the Labour Education Foundation will organize a protest at Aman Ghar, a labour training centre.

    These actions will show how important it is for Pakistan to stop coal expansion and rapidly phase out existing coal. They will also highlight the Global North’s continued support of coal projects in Asia despite its promise to move away from fossil fuels.

  • Ex-boyfriend who burned Ugandan athlete dies from burns himself

    Ex-boyfriend who burned Ugandan athlete dies from burns himself

    The ex-boyfriend of Ugandan Olympian athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has died from burns sustained while he tried to set her on fire.

    Rebecca, a 33-year-old marathon runner, represented Uganda at the Paris Olympics 2024 and finished 44th in the marathon. She suffered burns to more than 75 percent of her body in an attack on September 1, dying four days later.

    The two of them were taken to a nearby Kenyan hospital. Her former boyfriend Dickson Ndiema Marangach attacked her when she returned home from church with her children.

    Local police report say that there was a dispute between Rebecca and her ex-boyfriend over land.

    Rebecca, he third elite sportswoman to be killed in Kenya since October 2021, has shifted the country’s focus on the issue of domestic violence in the country, particularly within its running community. Rights group say that female runners are at a high risk of exploitation and violence because men are drawn to their money which is far more than local income.

    Talking to Reuters, Rebecca’s father said, “This guy is dead because he killed my daughter. He has died because of his actions.”

  • Pakistan Sports Board details federations’ funding for last five years

    Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has released the details of the funds given to various federations and athletes over the last five years (Financial year 2019/20 to financial year 2023/24). The bulk of the funds released by the Board have been given out in the last two years.

    According to the PSB document, more than 50 crores were released to various federations and players in the financial year 2023/24, more than 42 crores during 2022/23, 40 crores in 2020/21, six crores 95 lakhs to federations in 2021/22, and only 2.5 crores in 2019/20.

    The PSB has allocated specific amounts to different sports federations and athletes. For instance, the PSB released 10.36 million rupees to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) in five years, more than 5.9 million of which were given to PHF last financial year, and more than 10 crore to the Athletics Federation. In 2023/24, a grant of 10 crores was released to the Volleyball Federation, whereas in the last five years, the Volleyball Federation received more than 11.5 crores.

    PSB gave seven crores to the Athletes Federation of Pakistan in the financial year 2023/24, seven crores to the Netball Federation in five years, six crores to the Taekwondo Federation, and four Crores 86 Lakh to the Tennis Federation in the last five years.

    During the last five years, the Squash Federation received five crores, the Rifle Association received 2.65 million, the Boxing Federation received three million, the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association received 2.47 million in the last five years, and the Cycling Federation received around four million funds.

  • Govt’s debt grows by Rs247.89 billion in a week: SBP report

    Govt’s debt grows by Rs247.89 billion in a week: SBP report

    The government has taken on an extra Rs247.89 billion in debt for the week ending August 30. This new borrowing pushes the total government debt for the fiscal year 2025 up to Rs439.67 billion, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

    For those unaware how this is categorised, the borrowing falls into three main categories: budget support, commodity operations, and other expenses.

    Out of the total Rs247.89 billion borrowed in the said week, Rs248.84 billion was used to support the budget, Rs951.06 million was spent by the government on commodity operations, and Rs0.97 million went to various other needs.

    Considering yearly borrowing, the government has borrowed a sum of Rs680.95 billion for budget support, Rs239.54 billion for commodity operations, and Rs1.74 billion for other expenses.

    The main sources of this funding are the central bank and scheduled banks.

    Shockingly, the government has already borrowed Rs44.13 billion from the State Bank this year.

    The Federal Government has repaid Rs176.62 billion, while the Provincial Government has borrowed Rs246.34 billion.

    The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Government has repaid Rs14.79 billion, and the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Government has repaid Rs10.8 billion.

    Scheduled banks released Rs636.82 billion in loans, with Rs660.33 billion going to the Federal Government.