Author: newsdesk

  • Why is a Pakistani journalist on the ‘most wanted list’?

    Why is a Pakistani journalist on the ‘most wanted list’?

    Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has released the latest “most wanted terrorists” list, which shockingly includes the name of a prominent tribal journalist and author, Ihsanur Rehman Dawar.

    The counter-terrorism department on Tuesday placed the name of Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) assistant director Ihsanur Rehman Dawar on the list of most wanted fugitives announcing a bounty of Rs1 million for information leading to his arrest.

    Mr Dawar, a former journalist and an author, is part of the list along with over 150 other proclaimed offenders. The profile shared by the CTD has incorrectly named him Ihsanullah Khan.

    Dawar expressed shock at the inclusion, stating that he has been residing in Peshawar since 2011 and has no criminal record.

    Dawar asserts that his father’s name, home address, and picture are correctly identified as per Dawn.

    “This is how our institutions are working. They have ruined my reputation,” Dawar lamented, vehemently denying any connections to militants within his family.

    The CTD, in a statement, insisted that Ihsanullah Khan was nominated in an FIR for attacking an army picket in North Waziristan in 2019, leading to his proclamation as a wanted offender.

    The department justified the Rs1 million bounty, claiming it was recommended by the district police officer and duly notified by the home department.

    The Miramshah Press Club criticized the CTD’s move, describing Dawar as an “honorary member” and denouncing the reward for his arrest.

    The case in question involves a 2019 firing incident at the Khar Kamar checkpost, which resulted in casualties. Dawar was declared a proclaimed offender, but lawmakers Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar were acquitted in 2020.

    The CTD’s most-wanted list, however, has raised eyebrows, with several inaccuracies noted.

    The inclusion of surrendered TTP spokesperson Ihsanullah Ihsan, and individuals previously reported dead in Afghanistan, such as Omar Mukarram Khurasani, has underscored concerns about the authenticity and verification of information within the CTD’s records.

    Some of the individuals on the wanted list include Jalaluddin, Muhammad Asif Khan, Asif Siddiqui, Muhammad Fayyaz, Inam Qari, Altaf Hussain, Muhammad Rizwan, Shehkar Din Bhatti, Wajid Khan, Niaz Muhammad, Naqab Khan, Kaleem Khan, Zarif Saeed, Yasir Ilyas and Muhammad Kashif.

    According to the fresh list, Said Qadar of Mardan carries the highest reward of Rs8 million while Zahid Qadar of the same district carries Rs7 million head money.

    In October this year, to combat militancy effectively, the CTD launched an aggressive initiative aimed at apprehending 135 of the most-wanted terrorists, announcing bounties on their heads.

    The CTD unveiled a comprehensive list containing the names and photographs of the 135 most-wanted terrorists. This initiative, designed to combat militancy, also included the unprecedented inclusion of a female suspect in the K-P province.

    The alleged female terrorist, known as Quratulain, is believed to be the wife of Iqbal, also known as Bali Khiyara, who was a prominent commander of a terrorist group in DI Khan. Iqbal’s life came to an end in a recent encounter with the CTD.

  • Pakistan Stock Exchange achieves record high, crossing 58,000 points

    Pakistan Stock Exchange achieves record high, crossing 58,000 points

    A positive shift in market sentiment fueled the Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) upward trajectory as the benchmark KSE-100 Index surpassed the historic 58,000 level for the first time in Wednesday’s trading session.

    At 12:45 pm, the benchmark index reached 58,203.85, marking a noteworthy increase of 832.27 points, or 1.45 per cent. 

    Widespread buying, particularly in index-heavy sectors such as automobile assemblers, cement, chemicals, commercial banks, fertiliser, and oil and gas exploration companies, contributed to this surge, with OMCs also registering gains.

    The benchmark index climbed by 294 points, or 0.51%, the previous day, settling at 57,371.59.

    This sustained bullish trend reflects improved economic indicators in the country and the interim government’s successful negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the first review, unlocking $700 million in funding.

    Analysts expect that, following the review, Pakistan will attract additional inflows from both multilateral and bilateral partners.

    Commenting on this rapid yet anticipated recovery at PSX, Mohammed Sohail, CEO of Topline Securities, stated, “PSX is experiencing one of the fastest but not unexpected recoveries.”

  • SHOs to be taken to task if underage driver causes accident, says Lahore High Court

    SHOs to be taken to task if underage driver causes accident, says Lahore High Court

    “If an underage driver causes a road accident, the relevant SHO and sector in-charge will be taken to task,” Justice Ali Zia Bajwa remarked during the hearing of a petition of Afnan Shafqat, the prime suspect in the DHA car accident that resulted in deaths of six members of a family, reports Dawn.

    The underage suspect approached the court against alleged harassment by the police and for the protection of his right to fair trial.

    However, the court ordered traffic police to continue its crackdown on underage drivers and warned it against any harassment to law-abiding citizens.

    CTO Traffic police Mustansir Feroze told the court that a crackdown was underway against driving vehicles without licences and as many as 2,986 cases had been registered in three days.

    Talking to the media, the CTO said more than 4,000 cases had been registered during the crackdown against underage driving. He said hundreds of vehicles had been confiscated in police stations and over 16,000 learner permits had been issued in a single day.
    He said the city had 30 licencing offices, ten mobile vans, and three 24-hour open centres. He said three new licence centres were being established in the city.

    Consequently, Traffic Police in Attock arrested 26 underage drivers, 14 were arrested in Attock City, eight in Fatehjang and four in Jand.

  • Pakistani shepherdess, midwife make it to BBC’s top 100 women list

    Pakistani shepherdess, midwife make it to BBC’s top 100 women list

    Two Pakistani women have been included into the BBC’s list of this year’s top 100 inspiring and influential women. The list highlights women who became trailblazers in their field and worked to spread awareness about issues like climate change, political instability and natural disasters. Among the list are famous Muslim figures like lawyer Amal Clooney, Pakistani Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, Iraqi-American beauty mogul Huda Kattan.

    The first Pakistani woman included in the list is Afroze-Numa, one of the last Wakkhi shepherdess who has taken care of goats, yack and sheep for over three decades.

    “Having learnt the trade from her mother and grandmothers,” the BBC description reads, “she is part of a centuries-old tradition that is now dying out in Pakistan’s Shimla valley.”

    “Every year these shepherdesses take their flocks to pastures 4,800m (16,000ft) above sea level, where they prepare dairy products to barter, while their animals feed.

    Their income has brought the village prosperity and allowed them to provide an education for their children. Afroze-Numa still fondly remembers being the first woman in the valley to own a pair of shoes.”

    The second Pakistani woman included in the list is Neha Mankani, a midwife who travelled to flood-affected areas in order to provide life-saving birthing kits and midwifery care to mothers and their babies.

    “Her typical practice focuses on low-resourced settings, emergency response and climate-affected communities,” the BBC said, adding that Mama Baby Fund has now raised enough money to launch a boat ambulance that will transport pregnant women living in coastal communities to nearby hospitals and clinics for urgent treatment.

    Taking to Instagram to share the post, Mankani wrote she was honoured to receive the acknowledgement from BBC.

    “Really honoured to be on the @bbc100women list this year as a climate hero, celebrating the important role of midwives in climate emergencies and highlighting my work with @mamababyfund in last year’s floods and in the climate affected island communities of Karachi. Head over to @bbc100women to read about all the really amazing women highlighted this year”

  • ICC introduce five-runs penalty if bowler doesn’t bowl in 60 seconds

    ICC introduce five-runs penalty if bowler doesn’t bowl in 60 seconds

    International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced a new five-run penalty to be applicable on the fielding side if a bowler doesn’t bowl the next over within 60 seconds for the third time in an inning.

    This decision was taken in an ICC meeting yesterday. This rule will be implemented on trial basis from December 2023 to April 2024.

    Previous rule:

    In previous rules, if the bowling team bowl only 48 over in given time in one day International (ODI), only four fielders will be allowed out-side the circle till 50 overs. Same rule was implemented in T20 match, if the bowling team bowl 19 overs out of 20 in given time.

    New Rules:

    According to the new rules, a five-run penalty will be imposed on the bowling side, if they do not bowl the next over within 60 seconds for third time in an inning.

    A stop watch will be used to regulate the time taken between two overs. This rule will be used for first time during the three-ODI’s series between England and West Indies starting from December 3, 2023.

    The purpose of this rule is to maintain the pace of play during the cricket match.

  • Netanyahu says “We are at war – and will continue the war” amid ceasefire deal

    Netanyahu says “We are at war – and will continue the war” amid ceasefire deal

    Israel has agreed to a temporary ceasefire deal with Hamas as prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces pressure from the Israeli public since October 7 — particularly of families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza where more than 13,000 people have been killed because of Israeli attacks.

    Netanyahu reportedly met with some of the families last night, assuring them that bringing their loved ones back was “a sacred and supreme task”.

    The Israeli prime minister, however, has asserted that he has no intention of ending Israel’s attacks on Gaza.

    “Let me make it clear,” he said earlier, “we are at war – and will continue the war”.

    He set the record straight that Israel will not stop until they succeed in their aim i.e. “eliminating Hamas, returning all of our hostages and assuring that … Gaza will no longer threaten Israel.”

  • MDCAT saga: Alleged test leak in Sindh, retesting in KP

    MDCAT saga: Alleged test leak in Sindh, retesting in KP

    Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2023 has been embroiled in major controversy involving cheating in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Sindh. The test is mandatory for admission in disciplines of medicine and dentistry.

    Sindh

    A retest was conducted on Sunday, November 19, across four centres in Sindh as the previous one was cancelled due to overwhelming complaints of cheating. Almost 41,000 students appeared for a total of 4,790 seats — 3,600 for MBBS and 1,190 for dental studies. As per the reports, answer sheets are circulating on social media, fueling speculation that the exam paper was leaked.

    This raised questions over the feasibility of leaking the entire paper through social media, given the ban on phones and smart watches at test centres. Additionally, students have expressed dissatisfaction with the test’s content, citing questions beyond the prescribed syllabus and errors in the answer keys, reports The News.

    In a recent statement, President PMDC Dr Rizwan Taj has acknowledged social media reports alleging the leak of MDCAT paper conducted under the supervision of DOW University of Health Sciences (DUHS). He asserted that both the managing authorities-DUHS vice-chancellor and Sindh Chief Secretary-have denied the allegations, saying the news is not correct and question papers were released by students post-test at 4pm as the test had ended at 2pm.

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

    After the cancellation of the September 10 test in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the exam is to be reconducted on November 26. A plan has been devised according to which police will be deployed to provide security to the staff involved in in transportation of test material to all centres in the designated cities, including Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan, Kohat, Mardan, Dir Lower, Swat and Abbottabad. A total of 46,220 candidates will appear in test.
    To ensure transparency police will be also be involved during printing, packaging, transportation and scanning of examination material inside and outside Khyber Medical University Peshawar from 20 November to 30.

    Section 144 will be imposed around the centres, mobile phone will remain jammed, power supply will remain uninterrupted from 9am to 3pm on date of test are also part of the plan, says the report by Dawn.

  • Shehbaz Sharif candidate for Punjab’s chief ministership, says Rana Sanaullah

    Shehbaz Sharif candidate for Punjab’s chief ministership, says Rana Sanaullah

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Rana Sanaullah has said that former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif will be the party’s next candidate for Punjab’s chief ministership.

    Shehbaz Sharif has served as a three-time chief minister of Punjab, as well as being Prime Minister for around 16 months when the Pakistan Democratic Movement came into power after ousting the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan.

    “In my personal opinion, given the destruction during the Buzdar regime and in the manner in which Punjab was progressing till 2018, it is Punjab’s need that Shehbaz Sharif take charge of Punjab’s affairs,” PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah told Geo News’ Shahzeb Khanzada.

    “Had Shehbaz Sharif got the opportunity to [serve as the chief minister] after the 2018 elections as well, then Punjab would have become an example for the rest of Pakistan,” Sanaullah, who served as the interior minister under Shehbaz in the Centre, said.

    According to the PML-N leadership, Shehbaz Sharif can work in any capacity under the leadership of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.

    “My assessment says that Shehbaz Sharif will be ready to work with Nawaz Sharif in any capacity. He will not complain about it,” the ex-interior minister said.

  • ICC shifts men’s Under-19 World Cup from Sri Lanka to South Africa

    ICC shifts men’s Under-19 World Cup from Sri Lanka to South Africa

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to shift the Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2024 from Sri Lanka to South Africa, after the governing body’s Board took a unanimous decision following the recent temporary suspension of Sri Lankan cricket.

    The ICC Board agreed that the suspension would not affect all levels of cricket, including any bilateral and domestic series and tournaments, but annual funding would remain in place until the suspension ends.

    ICC has decided that Sri Lanka can participate in bilateral cricket and ICC events at the international level, while Sri Lanka as an ICC member, was suspended for the violation. The Board is required to conduct its affairs independently and without government interference.

    The mega event will start January 13, 2024 while the final will be played on February 4.

    South Africa hosted the Women’s Under-19 World Cup in 2023 as well as the inaugural edition of the Men’s Under-19 World Cup in 2020.

  • EU report highlights rights issues and corruption in Pakistan

    On Tuesday, the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) jointly revealed a monitoring report on Pakistan’s Generalised Scheme of Preference, or GSP Plus.

    The report expressed concerns about forced disappearances, torture, and limitations on media freedom in Pakistan, which are seen as violations of international treaties.

    It urged Pakistan to enforce laws protecting economic, social, and political rights and raised reservations about the misuse of anti-corruption rhetoric for political purposes.

    Despite civilian rule since 2008, the report highlighted the military’s disproportionate role in politics and the economy.

    Covering 2020–2022, it focused on the May 9 riots and subsequent trials in military courts, recognising legislative progress but emphasising the need for improved practical implementation.

    Furthermore, the report read that although initial measures have been undertaken to limit the application of the death penalty, additional steps are required to bring them in line with international standards.

    This entails introducing a comprehensive revision of the mercy petition procedure.

    “It has undeniably increased awareness of human rights at the grassroots level, of labour rights within businesses and export supply chains and of the significance of environmental considerations and good governance.

    However, the full potential of the GSP+ benefit can only be realised by diversifying Pakistan’s exports to include more value-added products”, remarked EU Ambassador to Pakistan H.E. Dr Riina Kionka about the report.

    Pakistan attained GSP Plus status in January 2014, following the ratification of 27 international conventions and a commitment to their implementation.

    The GSP Plus incentive provides Pakistan with zero-rated or preferential tariffs on nearly 66 per cent of tariff lines, thereby bolstering the country’s capacity to export to the EU market.