Category: National

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  • ‘I am committing suicide, fearing raids,’ said Khi target killer before shooting himself

    One of the most-wanted target killers, Shaheen Bihari, committed suicide in Karachi’s Orangi Town because he was afraid of the raids and being arrested, Geo News reported.

    Police claim that target killer Shaheen Bihari has committed suicide out of fear of arrest.

    The incident took place in Orangi Town Mansoor Nagar area of ​​Karachi. The deceased has been identified as Shaheen Bihari, an alleged target killer.

    Police found a pistol and a letter written before the suicide at the scene.

    Read More: Death by suicide killed more people in October than Covid-19 in Japan

    According to SSP West, Shaheen Bihari along with his accomplice Asif Bhiya had murdered ASI Akram Khan at a hotel in Orangi on August 28.

    Bihari wrote in the letter that he had thrown away the pistol which he had used to shoot the ASI. “I am committing suicide with another pistol.”

    According to Sahai Aziz, Asif Bhaya, an accomplice of the accused, was arrested by Rangers and police recently. Shaheen Bihari is also seen in the CCTV footage of the incident.

  • VIDEO: DG ISPR pays rich tribute to the martyrs of Pakistan

    VIDEO: DG ISPR pays rich tribute to the martyrs of Pakistan

    Director General Inter Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar on Friday paid rich tributes to the martyrs, Ghazi and their loved-ones for their indomitable spirit, patriotism and valour rendered to safeguard the homeland.

    DG ISPR took his social media handle to share a special video with a special message of patriotism. He wrote on his official account, “Salute to the martyrs, Ghazi and ‘all’ related to them. Martyrs of Pakistan are our pride”.

    The tweet was also followed by hashtags ‘#6 September’ ‘#ShuhadaKoSalam’. Earlier, the ISPR chief during his news briefing announced that this year’s “Defence & Martyrs Day” theme was “Our martyrs are our pride, salute to all the relatives belonged to Ghazi and Shaheed”. He said the ceremony for this year would be held under Covid-19 protocols with full national zeal and fervour.

  • Bahawal Victoria Hospital bans jeans, bangles, rings in hospital premises

     Newly hired medical superintendent of the Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH) Dr Muhammad Younus Warraich has banned jeans in the hospital and made dupatta or scarf mandatory for the women medical officers (WMOs) and paramedics, Majeed Gill reported for Dawn.

     The new dress code has been introduced reportedly by the new head of the hospital to ‘preach Islam and reform the society’.

    A notification signed by Mr Warraich, titled as, DRESS CODE RULES IN B.V. HOSPITAL BAHAWALPUR PREMISES consisted of two categories of ‘ALLOWED’ and ‘NOT ALLOWED’.

    The letter gives the list of the dresses, which are not permitted in the hospital. It includes “jeans/tights (but only with knee-length shirt), high-up trousers/capri above ankle, tight fitted clothes, see-through clothes, heavy/tacky bangles or rings, sleeveless/half sleeves clothes, heavy make-up (especially dark lipsticks), untied long hair, high heels (making loud sounds and turning heads of everyone), extreme hairstyles (especially high buns like the hump of camels), low neckline (front and back), nail paint on long nails, slippers and anklets (Pazaib)”.

    The “ALLOWED” category includes, “shalwar kameez or trousers with long shirts, dupatta/scarf, minimal jewelry like studs/tops, simple ring, or a chain with locket, sleeves below the elbow, lab coat (compulsory in hospital premises), maternity gowns/suitable dresses (during antenatal period) and scrubs with long sleeves that can be folded for females”.

    It is notable that the code looks to be mostly women-centric.

    Talking to Dawn, Mr Warraich confirmed that lab coats and maternity gowns during operations are now necessary on the hospital premises along with dupatta/scarf with minimum jewellery for women medical officers. Explaining the move, he said the step had been taken to preach Islam, promote religious values and reform society.

  • ‘A physically challenged girl doesn’t need anyone,’ three Pakistanis on solo trip to Egypt

    ‘A physically challenged girl doesn’t need anyone,’ three Pakistanis on solo trip to Egypt

    Pictures of three physically challenged Pakistani friends on a tour to Egypt are doing the rounds on social media. The three women are Tanzeela, Afshan and Zarghona. Tanzeela is from Lahore, Afshan hails from Peshawar and Zarghona lives in Quetta.

    Talking to BBC Urdu, Tanzeela said that she is physically challenged since her childhood. She says, “I have no legs below the knees and I have been in a wheelchair all my life,” but so far she has travelled 20 countries in a wheelchair.

    “I wanted to prove that a disabled girl doesn’t need anyone, she can be independent, she can make her own decisions,” she said talking about travelling alone.

     Tanzeela said, “Allah has created us all independent, but in our country, a differently-abled person is made dependant on others and he cannot go anywhere without the help of anyone, from restaurants to public washrooms.” She added that there are no facilities for physically challenged persons to go anywhere alone. They have to ask for someone’s help to go to the restaurants or public washrooms. There is no privacy and if there is no privacy, then your self-confidence is completely destroyed.

    “I thought I would take a step forward and set an example for other people.”

    The other friend, Afshan told BBC Urdu that 75 per cent of her body was paralysed because she was not vaccinated against polio when she was a child. Physiotherapy has made her healthy enough that she can now sit in a wheelchair.

    Sharing her feelings about travelling alone, she said that women with disabilities are often looked upon with pity. “It is a common notion about them that they cannot go anywhere so I decided to show the world that when you have the courage, then nothing is impossible.”

    Afshan said that we used to see girls travelling outside Pakistan but never saw anybody mentioning facilities provided to the physically challenged people who want to travel to other countries. “Nobody mentioned whether the conditions are the same in foreign countries as in Pakistan or better for people like us.”

    Zarghona was seven months old when she contracted polio and was unable to walk.

    “I have never travelled from Quetta to Islamabad or Karachi alone before this and I used to have some attendant with me. Even if I go somewhere in Quetta, I have to take someone with me,” she said.

    This is her first trip alone. She has previously travelled with different groups to three countries. “I was very excited to see Tanzeela and Afshan and I dared to travel alone,” she added. “If they can travel alone, why can’t I?”

  • Govt announces fee for Covid vaccine booster shot

    The federal government on Saturday announced to administer booster Covid vaccine shots for people travelling abroad. The government has decided on a fee of Rs 1,270 for the booster shot that will be submitted at the National Bank of Pakistan, ARY News reported.

    As per reports, the federal government has sent a handout to the provincial governments, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) governments for taking measures in this regard.

    The handout stated that the Covid vaccine shots to those planning to travel abroad would be administered at designated centres in the provinces and federal regions.

    Citizens could get the vaccine shots after showing their valid visa and bank voucher.

    Earlier, it was reported that separate counters would be set up at the vaccination centres, where travellers can receive booster shots of approved Covid vaccines for their destinations.

    The sources further said that those wanting to get the shots had to show the travel documents including a visa and they would be given a certificate for the booster shot to be submitted to the authorities during their foreign trip.

  • At least 15 killed in fire at chemical factory in Karachi

    At least 15 workers of a chemical factory lost their lives after a fire broke out at a factory in Karachi’s Mehran Town on Friday, police and rescue officials told Dawn.

    Talking to Dawn, Korangi SSP Shah Jehan said that so far 15 bodies had been recovered from the factory.

    He said that the police had been informed that there were 25 people still stuck in the building, and feared that they may not have survived.

    According to a spokesman for the Pakistan Rangers (Sindh), the area had been cordoned off and Rangers officials were busy in relief efforts with rescue teams.

    The spokesperson said that the fire had started at a chemical factory in Mehran Town, adding that the fire was now under control and rescue efforts were underway.

    Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) Additional Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said that 13 bodies had been shifted to the hospital so far.

    According to police officials, an Edhi volunteer, Saddam, 30, also sustained injuries while trying to extinguish the fire. The injured were also rushed to JPMC.

    Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and ordered the Karachi commissioner and the labour department to make a report. “How did the incident occur and what safety precautions were being taken,” he questioned.
    He also directed officials to provide the best possible medical aid to the injured and support to the families of the deceased.

  • Minar-e-Pakistan incident: 24 arrested through ‘geo-fencing and Nadra match’, says Shireen Mazari

    Minar-e-Pakistan incident: 24 arrested through ‘geo-fencing and Nadra match’, says Shireen Mazari

    Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari tweeted on Friday that 24 men had been detained through geo-fencing and matching records from National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) for harassing and assaulting a female TikToker and her team members at Lahore’s Greater Iqbal Park on Independence Day.

    The minister wrote, “More arrests are expected today” in connection with the “condemnable” incident.

    She further stated that a police investigation was also in progress against the alleged negligence of police officers in the assault case.

    Following a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and other senior officials, Inspector General Inam Ghani said that senior police officers had been suspended for negligence and delayed response in dealing with the incident.

    “We have suspended SHO and SDPO whereas Divisional SP, SSP Operations and DIG Operations Lahore have been removed from their posts,” Ghani wrote in a tweet.

    “Strict departmental action will be taken once the inquiry committee submits its detailed report on the role and response of other officers,” he added.

    On August 17, the Lorry Adda police had filed a case against nearly 400 suspects for harassing and assaulting a woman at Lahore’s Greater Iqbal Park. The videos of the incident went viral on social media and sparked an outrage.

  • Rashid Minhas remembered on his 50th martyrdom anniversary

    Rashid Minhas remembered on his 50th martyrdom anniversary

    The military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), has remembered the sacrifice of martyred Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas (Nishan-e-Haider) on his 50th death anniversary on Friday.

    The DG-ISPR said in a Twitter message, “On 50th Martyrdom anniversary, we remember with reverence, bravery & supreme sacrifice of National Hero Pilot officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed, Nishan-e -Haider.

    “In line of duty, Pilot offr Rashid Minhas lived up to great traditions of Pakistan Air Force defending the motherland.”

    The brave son of Pakistan was born on February 17, 1951, in Karachi. He belonged to the famous Minhas clan of Rajputs.

    His childhood fascination with aircraft and aviation led him to what he truly was destined for. Minhas embraced his true passion after school and earned a degree in military history and aviation history from the University of Karachi.

    He was commissioned as a pilot in the Pakistan Air Force in 1971.

    Minhas was taxiing towards the runway when a Bengali instructor pilot, Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman, signalled him to stop and then climbed into the instructor’s seat. The jet took off and turned towards India.

    Minhas radioed PAF Base Masroor with the message that he was being hijacked. The air controller requested that he resend his message, and he confirmed the hijacking. Later investigation showed that Rahman intended to defect to India to join his compatriots in the Bangladesh Liberation War, along with the jet trainer.

    However, Minhas did the only thing within his control and forced that plane to crash just 32 miles from the Indian border, deliberately sacrificing his life for the honour of Pakistan.

    Minhas spent his early childhood in Lahore. Later, the family shifted to Rawalpindi.

    Awarded with Pakistan’s top military honour Nishan-e- Haider, Minhas became the youngest man in history and the only member of the Pakistan Air Force to be honoured with this award for his valiant feat.

    Titled a national hero, the Pakistan Air Force base at Kamra was renamed PAF Base, Minhas, often called Minhas-Kamra.

  • Newborn baby’s body goes missing from grave

    The body of a newborn baby buried in a graveyard in Burewala disappeared from the grave, Geo News reported.

    Police said that the footprints of a man and a woman could be seen near the grave. All the evidence has been collected, which will help in the investigation to reach the accused.

    An eight-day-old baby boy named Ashfaq died in a village near Burewala and was buried in the village cemetery.

    Read More: Eight-year-old Indian girl killed in ‘human sacrifice’ ritual, four held: police

    According to his parents, when they reached the grave to recite Fateha the next day, the grave was open and the newborn’s body was missing.

    The family protested and demanded immediate recovery of the child’s body.

  • Police arrest Peshawar man for wearing scary mask

    Police arrest Peshawar man for wearing scary mask

    Police have arrested a man for wearing a costume mask and frightening citizens.

    The Yakatoot police received complaints about a motorcyclist riding around the streets with a scary mask to frighten pedestrians. The police traced and detained the man after complaints

    Naila Inayat, a journalist, shared a video of the man behind the bars. “This guy arrested in Peshawar had plans to celebrate Independence Day by scaring people. Apparently, the police wasn’t much impressed. He was caught in his scary mask,” she wrote in a tweet.

    Journalist Iftikhar Firdous tweeted, “Peshawar police and masks don’t get along.”

    Firdous was referring to a man who was wearing a ‘wolf mask’ in Peshawar on New Year’s Eve and was arrested by the Peshawar police for “trying to scare off people” in the provincial capital.