Author: newsdesk

  • ‘Afghan-looking’ Pakistanis taken to holding centres for deportation, says Aurat March

    ‘Afghan-looking’ Pakistanis taken to holding centres for deportation, says Aurat March

    In a series of video documents and reports released by the organization’s Lahore Chapter, a number of Pakistani Pashtuns are seen talking about how they are being taken in to deportation centres because they ‘look Afghan’. Their minor children, and in one case an Afghan’s wife and a two-month-old baby, been taken to holding centres in multiple raids conducted by the police.

    The victims, visibly distressed, are complaining about the lack of information and resources as they do not know where the detainees are being taken and why. Some of them are being told that they will be taken to the borders for deportation because they do not hold registration cards and are assumed illegal by the government, even though their guardians hold the required documents.

    There are incidents of minor legal document holders being deported too. One such example is 16-year-old Mansour, brother of Yaseen who holds a PoR card but he says the police have confiscated it from him putting him at further risk. The child is being sent on a bus to the border.

    Aurat March is claiming that there is a large number of poor Pakistani Pashtuns running from one police station to the other, trying to prove with their CNICs and birth certificates of their detained children, that they are legal citizens and not illegal immigrants.

    Unfortunately, as confirmed by Aurat March, a video of a man doing rounds on social media where he is being told by the authorities that his son, a 17-year-old has been sent to Afghanistan after being picked up in a raid in Karachi, is true.

    In another video, a man from Waziristan, a Pakistani citizen is showing his child’s birth certificate, which was missing a day ago and has received a call from his son who is now sent to Chaman for deportation. He goes on to prove his citizenship by showing his Watan card and the ID cards of his deceased father and brother too. He alleges that the money and the photocopy of the father’s ID card had been snatched away from the kid by the police.

    Activist Mehrub Awan posted on X a video of a police officer outside the Sultanabad detention centre stating that “The Pakistanis deported accidentally can’t be brought back”.

    Lawyer Moniza Kakar, while talking to The Current, explains that the number of 1.7 million as stated by the government is a vague one, and the number is not definite since registration of Afghans stopped when the Taliban took over. All those who entered Pakistan after that were given a token which has no legal status. Consequently, they also can’t have access to any legal shelter. Even then, petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court and Sindh High Court where Lawyers Umer Gilani and Sara Malkani will be representing.
    Many, including women and children, are being confused by authorities, allegedly for having an accent or looking similar to Afghans, said Kakar.

    The government, however, is silent, raising questions over the transparency of the system and the very rushed way in which the process is being conducted. We have reached out to the interior ministry for a comment but they have not responded.

  • Pakistanis kay liye Bahrain aur Azerbaijan jana hua asaan

    Pakistanis kay liye Bahrain aur Azerbaijan jana hua asaan

    In an effort to facilitate tourism and strengthen cultural ties, the government of Azerbaijan has launched a user-friendly online service for the issuance of e-visit visas to citizens from various countries, including Pakistan.

    This exciting development launches in November 2023, providing Pakistani tourists a hassle-free entry into Azerbaijan.

    Azerbaijan visit visa fee November 2023:

    • Standard Category: For a single-entry 30-day electronic visit visa, Pakistani tourists can avail of the standard category at a fee of $69. The processing time for visa applications in this category ranges from 3 to 5 days

    • Urgent Category: In the urgent category, the visit visa for Pakistan nationals costs $119. This option offers a swift consideration period, with visa applications processed within three to five hours

    On the other hand, Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior, Nationality, Passport, and Residence Affairs (NPRA) has unveiled an efficient and convenient online visa application system for Pakistani nationals, offering three distinct types of visit visas.

    This new initiative aims to enhance travel experiences for visitors from Pakistan, whether they are planning a two-week vacation or a more extended stay in Bahrain.

    Visa types and application process:

    Pakistani travelers seeking to explore Bahrain’s tourism or business opportunities can now choose from the following visit visa options:

    1. Visit Visa – 2 Weeks Single Entry
    2. Visit Visa – Three Months Multiple Entry
    3. Visit Visa – One-Year Multiple Entry

    Application process

    1. Visit the official website and click on the “Apply for Visa” link on the homepage
    2. Fill out the eligibility page and proceed to view the available visa types and their respective conditions
    3. Select the desired visa type and click “Apply now”
    4. Complete the online application form as prompted, following the subsequent steps
    5. Attach the required documents, and if you are applying for multiple visas with the same credit card, use the “Submit another application” button to repeat the process
    6. Make the initial payment for the application fee using a credit card through a secure payment gateway, and keep note of the Application Reference Number(s) provided
    7. NPRA will process your application, and once approved, an email notification and a PIN will be sent to you
    8. Visit the Visa homepage and select “Pay for Application.” Provide the necessary information and enter the PIN to access your applications

    Should your application not be approved, you will receive an email containing instructions on contacting the relevant Embassy or NPRA.

    Required documents

    To complete your visa application, ensure you have the following documents:

    • A copy of your passport, including the family page and any additional information pages

    • A copy of a confirmed return air ticket

    • A copy of your hotel booking in Bahrain. If you plan to stay with a relative or friend, provide a copy of their ID reader’s printout

    • A copy of a bank statement under your name, covering the last three months with a balance of not less than the equivalent of USD 1000

    Visa fee information

    The total fee for applying for a two week long visit visa is nine Bahraini Dinar.

  • Seven water facilities ‘directly hit’ in Gaza: What we know about day 31

    In the month that has passed since Israel declared war on Gaza following the Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7, almost 9,800 Palestinians have been killed.

    200 people in Gaza killed in a night

    Palestinian Health Ministry revealed that last night’s Israeli air raids killed more than 200 people.

    Palestinian activist Saleh al-Jafarawi shared a video from one of the areas attacked by Israel.

    450 Hamas positions targeted, Israel claims

    Since October 7, Israel has claimed to have hit about 450 Hamas targets which include fighters, military compounds, observation posts, antitank missile launch posts and tunnels.

    According to Al Jazeera, the army has also claimed to have tracked down an opening to Hamas’s tunnels close to the Sheikh Hamad Hospital in Gaza.

    And while schools and hospitals have been targeted by Israel on assertion that Hamas is using these facilities and civilian infrastructure as a means to defend its underground operations, Hamas has, time and again, denied the claims.

    Thousands of civilian casualties have resulted in the attacks on UN-run facilities, refugee camps, schools, mosques and churches, resulting in the killing of civilians.

    Joint statement by humanitarian organisations

    The heads of 18 humanitarian organisations, including the UN, have issued a rare joint statement calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Israel and Palestine.

    “Enough is enough,” the statement said. “This must stop now.”

    The letter signed by the heads of the 18 organisations is known by Inter-Agency Standing Committee.

    175 medical staff killed since October 7

    Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila has reported that since October 7, 175 medical personnel and 34 civil defence workers have been killed in the Gaza Strip.

    Additionally, 16 out of 36 hospitals and 51 out of 72 clinics are no longer in service after they have either been attacked by Israel or they are out of fuel and medicine to keep the centres running.

    70 Palestinians arrested in occupied West Bank

    At least 70 Palestinians have reportedly been arrested during raids in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Commission and the Prisoner’s Society.

    Since October 7, more than 2,000 people have been arrested including 49 women and 17 journalists.

    Water facilities destroyed

    The UN relief agency has revealed that seven water facilities in the Gaza Strip were “directly hit and sustained major damage” on Saturday and Sunday.

    Credits: Al Jazeera

  • Babar and Rizwan reject sizable offers from betting companies

    Babar and Rizwan reject sizable offers from betting companies

    Despite Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) cooperation with surrogate betting companies in Pakistan, including their partnership with Dafa News, Babar Azam (Pakistan Cricket Team Captain) and Mohammad Rizwan together, rejected the offer of crores of rupees from these organisations, The News has revealed.

    Pakistan cricket team’s wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan came under intense pressure and was asked by the Board to delete his tweet in which he dedicated the team’s historic win against Sri Lanka to the Palestinians.

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has accepted sponsorship as a surrogate betting sponsor like Dafa News in flagrant violation of the rules, allegedly to operate on all digital platforms. It has opened the floodgates to more than 150 illegal surrogate betting sites and apps, and some PSL franchises are reportedly allowing individual players to accept shirt logos and give image rights to these illegal gambling companies.

    One player revealed on condition of anonymity that PCB came under pressure from ICC and BCCI, asking Mohammad Rizwan to delete his tweet in which Rizwan dedicated Pakistan’s victory against Sri Lanka in CCWC 2023 was named after the people of Gaza.

    However, Rizwan refused to delete his tweet. Sources from one of the gambling companies also revealed that Babar Azam turned down an annual contract worth Rs 250 million while Mohammad Rizwan turned down a surrogate betting company’s Rs 100 million annual contract because such sponsorships and contracts are against the law.

    Email sent by betting company to Babar Azam

    It should be noted that Multan Sultans captain Muhammad Rizwan refused to put WOLF777 logo on his kit during the last PSL tournament. An email sent by 1XBET betting company to Babar Azam said that the company was impressed by the player’s social media platform and wanted to work with the individual. However, Saia Corporation, which is responsible for Babar Azam’s individual sponsorships, responded by saying, “Thank you. As Muslims, we do not endorse any betting or surrogate betting brands. Thanks for getting in touch. Have a nice day.” This email is also available to The News. A similar offer was also made to Muhammad Rizwan, to which the answer was the same.

    PCB gave the image rights of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to these betting companies against their will. Sources said that Babar, Rizwan, and others have categorically refused to sign contracts with such companies yet PCB has given us their image rights along with PSL franchises.

    Sources said that some Pakistan Super League franchises also forced players to wear the logos of these surrogate betting companies at any cost, which is a clear violation of the players’ rights to freedom of expression and liberty.

    PCB spokesperson statement:

    When contacted, a PCB spokesperson told The News that no such sponsor has been roped in since the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s zero-tolerance notification against surrogate betting companies.

    The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in a notification issued on September 25, declared Defa News as a surrogate betting company. The spokesperson said that PCB strictly prohibits any form of gambling or related activities. Some news sites may be sponsors but it is always ensured that their certificate of incorporation and shareholders do not have any ownership of alleged gambling concerns.

    He further said that there are allegations against these companies which the court has not confirmed. However, PCB will abide by all relevant laws and ethical provisions in seeking sponsors for all future events.

    The correspondent showed through WhatsApp to the PCB spokesperson the advertisements of these surrogate betting companies using the pictures of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan on social media and asked “How PCB is not responsible for this? These companies are clearly using pictures of Rizwan and Babar without their consent”.

    These surrogate betting companies entered Pakistan through cricket when advertisements started appearing in Pakistan Cricket around 2021. From PSL 2023, four of the total six PSL franchises have embarked on betting surrogates as their key sponsors and the PCB failed to regulate them. The News recently reported that the government of Pakistan It has started a crackdown against more than 150 surrogate betting companies operating in the country, which are causing billions of dollars in damage to the country’s economy.

    Information and Broadcasting Minister Murtaza Solangi revealed in a conversation with The News that all institutions are united with the military establishment in eliminating these betting companies. However, even after more than a month has passed since the notification was issued by the government today, all these betting apps are still running and no action has been taken by the authorities.

  • ‘The sun of February 8 will rise with the message of Bilawal’s victory’: Asif Zardari

    ‘The sun of February 8 will rise with the message of Bilawal’s victory’: Asif Zardari

    Former President Asif Ali Zardari said on Monday that he believes his son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, will win the next election.

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and President Arif Alvi recently decided that the election will take place on February 8, 2024.

    In an official statement issued today, Zardari welcomed the announcement of the election date and said: “The sun of February 8 will rise with the message of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s victory.”

    “A few days of the public’s difficulties are left. The PPP will bring an end to the people’s ordeals,” he added.

    The former president went on to express his gratitude to the public for the party’s victory in by-elections held in Karachi’s nine local government constituencies.

    “Sindh’s heart, Karachi, also raised the slogan of ‘Jiye Bhutto’,” Zardari said while terming Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab and Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad’s wins a “special message for the opponents”.

    “Every party worker may become the ambassador of Benazir Bhutto shaheed and start the electoral campaign,” he added.

    In another statement, Bilawal also congratulated the Karachi by-election winners and said, “The public has given its verdict. Now, God-willing, the PPP’s victory on February 8 is also written on the wall.”

    Before the election, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had been arguing a lot.

    The PPP says the PML-N is secretly working with the current interim government. On the other hand, the PPP has said it is ready to work with the former ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party because they want the election to be fair for everyone.

    This shift in alliances and strategies underscores the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of Pakistani politics, as the country gears up for a pivotal moment in its democratic journey.

  • Remember the Palestinian girl who stood up to Israeli soldiers? She just got arrested

    Remember the Palestinian girl who stood up to Israeli soldiers? She just got arrested

    Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi was arrested on Sunday night by Israeli forces in the West Bank, AJ Plus has reported. Tamimi’s house was raided at night while also arresting her mom. She was arrested under claims she was ‘inciting terrorism’.

    The arrest happens at a time Gaza suffers under severe Israeli bombardment, with 9,500 civilians killed, 4000 among them children.

    In the West Bank, where the Hamas has no authority, violence has soared after Gaza was attacked. On November 2, 3 Palestinians were killed during an Israeli raid.

    “Israeli soldiers raided Ahed Tamimi’s home, turned everything upside down and held her mother in another room, preventing her from being with her daughter,” Dena reported.

    The Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gabir posted a picture of Ahed caught by soldiers in her room where he was seen congratulating the IDF for capturing the ‘terrorist’. The post recieved extensive backlash for intentionally targeting innocent civilians over baseless charges..

    “ahed represents the spirit of resistance. she’s literally the definition of standing up against the oppressor……years after this photo these cowards STILL continue to arrest her time and time again not knowing there’s millions just like her,” a user wrote.

    Ahed made international headlines as the face of the Palestinian resistance when viral videos showed her confronting Israeli soldiers even slapped a soldier in December 2017.

  • Chutti Manao, Diwali Hai

    Chutti Manao, Diwali Hai

    The caretaker Sindh government has declared November 13 a public holiday for the Hindu community, marking the vibrant festival of Diwali.

    A notification issued by the provincial government confirmed the holiday, stating, “The Government of Sindh declares 13th November, 2023 (Monday) as Holiday for Hindu Community on the occasion of DIWALI for all Government offices, Autonomous Bodies, Semi-Autonomous Bodies, Corporations and Local Councils under the administrative control of Government of Sindh.”

    This decision by the Sindh government highlights a gesture of inclusivity and respect for the diverse religious festivities observed within the province.

    Moreover, provincial authorities had previously announced November 9 as a public holiday in honor of Iqbal Day, as per an official notification disseminated across various government departments.

    This measure aims to commemorate the influential legacy of Allama Iqbal, a renowned poet, philosopher, and politician, who played a pivotal role in shaping the ideological foundations of Pakistan.

  • Pakistan’s stock market surges to all-time high of 53,123.04 points

    Pakistan’s stock market surges to all-time high of 53,123.04 points

    The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) continued its impressive performance, with the benchmark KSE-100 index surging by over 700 points and approaching the historic milestone of 54,000 during Monday’s trading session.

    As the closing bell neared, the KSE-100 Index stood at 53,860.36, reflecting a remarkable gain of 737.33 points, or 1.39 per cent.

    In the preceding week, the KSE-100 index achieved a then-record high, driven by robust buying primarily from local investors, bolstered by institutional support.

    The benchmark index witnessed a substantial week-on-week increase of 2,179.20 points, breaching the 53,000 mark and concluding at an all-time high of 53,123.04 points, a historic first.

    Monday’s trading session witnessed broad-based buying, with key sectors such as cement, chemicals, commercial banks, and OMCs all trading in positive territory.

    Market analysts attributed this positive momentum to an overall improvement in economic indicators, notably the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) decision to maintain interest rates at 22 per cent during the last Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.

    Additionally, a decrease in the inflation rate, with the October 2023 Consumer Price Index (CPI) at 26.9 per cent year-on-year and favourable feedback from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission currently visiting Pakistan, further enhanced market sentiment.

    Furthermore, the announcement of final election dates by the country’s election commission, signifying political stability, also played a significant role in creating favourable conditions within the market.

  • Terrorists attack police station in Dera Ismail Khan

    Terrorists attack police station in Dera Ismail Khan

    Suspected terrorists attacked a police station on Monday in Dera Ismail Khan, the third terrorist attack in the district since Friday. The militants attacked the Gul Imam police station in Tank area. 

    One police official was injured as a result of attack.

    Police Constable Waheed Gul was injured in the exchange of firing. He was then urgently shifted to District Headquarters Hospital in Tank.

    With reinforcement personnel,District Police Officer (DPO) Tank Iftikhar Ali Shah reached the spot immediately, and then a search operation was started to wipe out militants.

    On Sunday evening, another policeman was injured in a terrorist attack on a checkpost in the Roori area of the Kulachi tehsil.

    Earlier, At least six people were killed and 20 injured after a blast in Dera Ismail Khan targeting a police van on Friday.

  • Nawaz Sharif directs party leaders to start election campaign

    Nawaz Sharif directs party leaders to start election campaign

    Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) head Nawaz Sharif instructed party leaders to start preparations for the upcoming general election, due to take place on February 8 next year.

    Nawaz Sharif directed party leaders in a meeting to begin preparations for elections. PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif and party’s vice president, Maryam Nawaz, attended the huddle.

    Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, PML-N Election Cell Chairman Senator Ishaq Dar and Central Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb also attended the meeting. 

    PML-N tweeted from its official X (previously Twitter) account that PML-N has entered a new phase of its election campaign as Nawaz Sharif has started meeting with party leaders.

    PML-N leaders discussed and planned further political activities for general election next year in February.

    The PML-N supremo told party leaders that they eill start development work from where we left off.

    This was the first meeting Nawaz Sharif held with party leaders at the central secretariat in Lahore after his return to the country.

    Khawja Asif has said that Nawaz Sharif will himself also contest next election.