Category: National

The Current is a trusted source for national breaking news, analysis, exclusive interviews, headlines, and videos.

  • Death toll in Kurram surpasses 100

    Death toll in Kurram surpasses 100

    Clashes in Kurram Agency have claimed more than 100 lives as of Thursday. 

     

     

    Despite a ceasefire agreement between the parties, reports suggest that sporadic attacks between tribes have been happening in the border region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

     

     

    The clashes entered the second week today as one person was killed in Ghozghari, Upper Kurram, while gunfights continued in Ghozgahri, Matasangar, Maqbal and Kunj Alizai areas.

     


    A mortar shell also hit the Bassu Camp of Frontier Constabulary (116 Wing) in Upper Kurram, injuring two FC personnel.

     


    On November 24, a ceasefire agreement was reached between the parties in Kurram after the intervention of government and tribal officials. 

     

     

    Information Advisor to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Barrister Saif, claimed on Sunday that the two sides had agreed to a seven-day ceasefire in addition to returning the hostages and bodies of dead, but local police says that clashes between different tribes have not stopped.

     


    However, the exchange of prisoners and dead bodies has been completed, according to Dawn.

     

     

    Local tribal leaders, including an ex-MNA, handed over the four female and a male hostage to the Kurram Militia in the presence of the wing commander and Lower Kurram Assistant Commissioner. 

     


    Similarly, one of the warring parties handed over the dead bodies of victims to the district administration, which was later given to the relatives.

     


    Clashes have been going on intermittently for 8 days. The number of lives claimed so far has reached 110, while the number of injured has surpassed 150.

     

     

    According to the district administration, the Peshawar-Parachinar main highway has been closed for the last 8 days after an attack was reported on the convoy of 200 vehicles.

     

    Initially, 44 deaths were reported, but now the toll has reached 52.

     

     

    Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Kurram Javedullah Mehsud says that trade with Afghanistan at the Kharlachi border has also been suspended due to the closure of the main highway.

     

     

    Talking to BBC Urdu, Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud says that various steps are underway to establish peace, and a Grand Peace Jirga is being sent to the area for negotiations.

     

     

    Additionally, due to the tense situation, internet and mobile phone services have also been suspended, which is why people are facing severe difficulties.

     

     

    National Assembly Member from the area, Hameed Hussain, has warned that the conflict would expand across the country if steps were not taken to stop these armed clashes.

  • Three people I know were killed in the PTI protest in Islamabad: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

    Three people I know were killed in the PTI protest in Islamabad: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

    In an interesting development, former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) member Shahid Khaqan Abbasi while appearing on a Dawn News program, revealed, “I personally know about three people who were killed by bullet injuries in PTI protests, two of whom are from my constituency.”

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) official page on X (formerly Twitter) shared the interview on November 28 as the party claims that security forces opened fire on protestors leading to multiple fatalities – a claim the government wholly denies.

    Abbasi’s revelation however came as a surprise as he criticised the government for the “extreme use of force” on the protestors warning that “one day they would all have to pay for this violence.”

    Journalist Arifa Noor asked Abbasi about the general perception being created by the state highlights the deaths of only security officials in the protests but not any civilians.

    Abbasi replied: “Tell the mother or father of that innocent civilian who lost his life in the protest that your son is alive. Unjust death is martyrdom. I personally know about three people who were killed by bullet injuries in PTI protests, two of whom are from my constituency. Their funeral prayers were offered yesterday.”

    The journalist remained stunned after Abbasi’s revelation and asked whether the families received the dead bodies, Abbasi replied: “Yes, they received the bodies as their funerals were offered. Look, it’s really strange that the government had to fire bullets at night when the area was in complete darkness. Were they attacked? They cannot justify open firing at the protestors in the federal capital, no less.”

    “I could even understand security forces firing at some violent protestors in the daytime. Even that is unjust and unacceptable. For the sake of an argument, I could understand that in the daytime, maybe a violent protestor attacked a security official and they killed that protestor. But they fired the bullets in complete darkness, what was the motive behind this policy? They had shut down electricity in the area deliberately,” remarked Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.


    “After killing the people, the government is doubling down and beating its chest that no one apart from the security officials has been killed. One day, they will have to accept what they’ve done,” said the former PML-N leader.

    It is worth mentioning that during the PTI’s tenure, corruption cases were lodged against then PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the Pakistan-Qatar LNG deal of 2015. 

    In 2024, NAB withdrew the cases against Abbasi and Miftah Ismail. Abbasi spent 138 days in jail before the first formal charge was brought against him. Miftah Ismail was in jail for 118 days when the first interim charge sheet was filed against all the accused.

  • VIDEO: ‘Salman Akram Raja resigned after Bushra Bibi abused him’

    VIDEO: ‘Salman Akram Raja resigned after Bushra Bibi abused him’

    Journalist Kashif Abbasi has claimed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Salman Akram Raja resigned after wife of party founder Imran Khan and former first lady, Bushra Bibi, hurled abuses at him among other party leaders.

     

    Raja had on Thursday afternoon tendered his resignation to party chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan citing “personal reasons”. The party chief had confirmed the receipt of resignation; however, he had said that the same had not yet been accepted.

     

    During his show later in the day, Abbasi claimed that the resignation came after the former first lady “humiliated and dishonoured” PTI leadership, “calling them bayghairat [shameless] and vultures seven times” in an earlier meeting. She once again used those words for party bigwigs in a meeting following the abrupt end to PTI’s Islamabad protests, the journalist added.

     

     

    Claiming this was the reason behind Raja’s resignation as well as discontent among senior leaders of the party, Abbasi also quoted Raja as saying that he was “not accountable to any family member of Imran Khan”.

     

    Meanwhile, journalist Shahzeb Khanzada claimed that Bushra’s behaviour was also the reason behind Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Sahibzada Hamid Raza’s resignation from the PTI core and political committees.

     

    Reports also quoted sources within the PTI as saying that Bushra’s insistence on marching towards D-Chowk was what led to party’s humiliation amid strong resistance from law enforcement. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur did not want to advance past Kulsoom Hospital but the former first lady kept insisting, they said.

     

    Speaking to a private media outlet, PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat confirmed the claim. “The KP CM was stressed out as he did not want to proceed beyond the Kulsoom Hospital limit. He was not in favour of marching towards D-Chowk […] He even visited Bushra’s vehicle twice,” he said.

     

    The developments come following Tuesday night’s grand operation against PTI demonstrators in the federal capital. The crackdown prompted CM Gandapur and the former first lady to fall back and flee to KP where PTI is in power.


    Prior to the operation, the two had led a mammoth convoy to Islamabad, demanding the release of incarcerated party founder Imran Khan. Convoys led by the duo as well as other leaders of the party met with heavy resistance from law enforcement.


    With the three-day protests turning violent, multiple casualties were also reported.


    Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had on late Tuesday night addressed media to announce that the capital city had been cleared of protesters after a join operation by police and Rangers personnel.

  • Majority of federal cabinet members in favour of governor’s rule in KP: report

    Majority of federal cabinet members in favour of governor’s rule in KP: report

    Following violent clashes amid Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) protest march in Islamabad, a majority of federal cabinet members have extended their support to the proposal of imposing Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

     

    According to Article 232 of the Constitution of Pakistan, powers of the provincial chief executive can be transferred to the governor in an emergency situation, marking the imposition of Governor’s Rule under highly extreme circumstances.

     

    The president of Pakistan issues the notification in this regard after he is satisfied that there are certain circumstances – such as internal disturbance or war-like situation – which are not under the control of the provincial administration.

     

    Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan have submitted their opinions regarding the Governor’s Rule in KP, reports said Thursday.

     

    The government, reports added, was of the view that KP itself created grounds for Governor’s Rule by “launching two attacks on the federal government” with the “help of provincial government’s employees and official machinery”.

     

    The federal cabinet meeting focused solely on the imposition of Governor’s Rule, reports said and added that the final decision in this regard will be taken after consulting political allies. All stakeholders will also be taken into confidence.

     

    It merits a mention that government’s allies in the province include the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Awami National Party (ANP) and Qaumi Watan Party (QWP).

     

    Speculations regarding Governor’s Rule in KP come after PTI’s three-day long march on Islamabad, which ended with multiple casualties due to violent clashes with law enforcement.

     

    KP Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur led the march along with former first lady and PTI founder Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi.

    Separately, senior PTI leader and former KP minister Shaukat Yousafzai on Thursday blasted his party leadership over mismanagement of the Islamabad march.

    He said that due to the party leadership’s blunders, the hardships of incarcerated party founder Imran Khan were mounting.

    “All the responsibility (for this) lied on the central leadership,” the PTI leader stated in a statement.

    He asked that if the PTI founder gave instruction to hold the sit-in at Sangjani, then why it was ignored. “Strategy in politics is made by looking at the situation,” he added.

  • PTI leaders question Bushra Bibi’s role in party decision-making

    PTI leaders question Bushra Bibi’s role in party decision-making

    The core committee and political committee of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday inquired about the role of party founder Imran Khan’s spouse, Bushra Bibi, in the party’s decision-making process. 

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s party emphasised that decision-making authority should be in the hands of the party’s political leadership and not non-political persons, a party source told The News.

    PTI leadership raised the question of who led the protest towards D Chowk Islamabad when Imran himself had ordered that demonstrations be limited to the Sangjani area. Some members questioned why Imran Khan’s directions were ignored, asking who acted against the PTI founder chairman’s order. 

    However, party sources claimed that in both meetings, no one defended Bushra Bibi.

    Investigative journalist Ansar Abbasi revealed that CM KP Ali Amin Gandapur and Opposition Leader of the National Assembly Omer Ayub Khan conveyed Imran Khan’s message to Bushra Bibi to limit the protest march at Sangjani area; however, she remained adamant about marching towards D Chowk.

    Ansar Abbasi had claimed that following the meeting of Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and KP’s Advisor of Information and Broadcasting Barrister Saif with party founder Imran Khan at Adiala Jail Rawalpindi, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi provided them with a helicopter to fly to Bushra Bibi and convince her to stop the march.

    However, two PTI leaders were a bit late as the march had already moved to the federal capital.

    On November 21, incarcerated Imran Khan had put demands before the federal government, including his release till Friday (November 22), to postpone his “final call” which the government did not agreed.

    PTI political and core committee on Wednesday condemned the alleged killing of their party demonstrators by the government. They demanded initiating the probe from within the party to identify those responsible for the decision to march to D Chowk, which led to the workers’ deaths.

    In the party meeting, it was also maintained that if the party founder’s direction had been strictly followed, there would have been a sit-in at Sangjani, and it would not only have avoided the killing of party workers but would have also led to the initiation of a formal dialogue between the Prime Minister (PM) Shahbaz Sharif’s led government and PTI.

    It should be mentioned here that following the Tuesday night grand operation against the protestors in the federal capital, multiple casualties were reported.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leadership claimed that more than twenty party workers had died. However, the government denied such a number of casualties.

  • ‘She didn’t mention which Khan’: Azma Bokhari’s inappropriate attack on Bushra Bibi draws criticism

    ‘She didn’t mention which Khan’: Azma Bokhari’s inappropriate attack on Bushra Bibi draws criticism

    Punjab’s Minister for Information, Azma Bokhari, has come under severe criticism on social media for her recent highly inappropriate and misogynistic press conference against the former first lady, Bushra Bibi.

     

    She referred to Bibi’s speech during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protests when she said that she would not leave the dharna without the incarcerated former prime minister and her husband, Imran Khan – implying that they would not leave until Khan was free.

     

    “She said she would not be back from Islamabad without Khan, but she did not mention Imran Khan. So what is all the fuss about?” the minister said.

     

    “If she didn’t mention Imran Khan, that is because she went back with many Khans. Ali Amin Gandapur is also a Khan, and there were many other Khans with her,” stated the provincial minister.

     

    Bokhari’s press conference was held after PTI remained unsuccessful in having a rally in Islamabad that started on November 24 –  a move deemed as the party’s “final call” to push the government to agree to the party’s terms.

     

    One social media user wrote, “The more they abuse, troll and vulgar talk, the more points they get in Maryam’s weekly evaluation chart.” Another X user commented, “@AzmaBokhariPMLN, this is so below the belt, you wouldn’t like it if the other sides throw stones at your glasshouses.”

     

    Bushra Bibi had taken a central role in leading the PTI caravan to the federal capital from Peshawar; however, around midnight of November 26, the entire PTI leadership was nowhere to be seen as the security forces launched a crackdown on the protestors.

     

    Media outlets quickly reported that Bushra Bibi, along with the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur, had left for Peshawar through Haripur, while the PTI supporters on social media denied these reports at the time.

     

    PTI supporters on social media have been strongly criticising the entire PTI leadership for abandoning the people in the dark in Islamabad as the government launched a crackdown.

     

    The political situation in the country became tense over the last few days as protestors defied the government’s warning not to enter Islamabad while violent clashes took place between the PTI protestors and security forces, leading to multiple casualties.


    The government also deployed the Pakistan Army after violent clashes led to the deaths of Rangers personnel. A notification issued by the Interior Ministry said that the army was authorised to impose a curfew in any locality deemed necessary to maintain law and order.

     

    Interestingly, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi blamed a “secret hand” for failed negotiations with the PTI protestors, saying, “The PTI leadership wants to hold talks, but a secret hand is controlling the party, and it is stronger than all others. They have some other motives.”

     

    Naqvi’s comments came after reports claimed that PTI leadership, including founder Imran Khan, had approved shifting the protest to Sangjani amid violent clashes. The same was not accepted by Bushra Bibi, who said she would continue leading protesters to D-Chowk till she had spoken to her husband herself.

  • PTI to be banned? Faisal Vawda certainly thinks so

    PTI to be banned? Faisal Vawda certainly thinks so

    Following Tuesday’s violent clashes between followers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and law-enforcing forces in the federal capital, which led to multiple casualties, Senator Faisal Vawda, while appearing on the Geo News programme Capital Talk on Wednesday, claimed that former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s party will be banned.

     

    The Senator’s remarks came about as the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) decided to table a resolution in the Balochistan Assembly seeking a ban on PTI after clashes with security officials during the three-day-long party protest.

     

    PML-N parliamentary leader Saleem Khosa, who is set to tabled the resolution to suspend PTI, commented, “Once again, it [the former ruling party] is carrying out violent actions.”

     

    Faisal Vawda stated, “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister [Ali Amin Gandapur] will not be arrested, but Bushra Bibi [Imran Khan’s wife] will.”

     

    Faisal Vawda also pointed out the absence of PTI’s big names during the recent protest: “Where was Omar Ayub Khan, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly?”

     

    He alleged that the former First Lady has a “major role” in bringing founder Imran Khan’s party to a “dead end.”

     

    Vawda took a jab at Imran Khan’s spouse, saying, “Woman [Bushra Bibi] said she would march on D-Chowk but later ran away.”

     

    He criticised Bushra Bibi for insisting on marching towards D Chowk despite the party’s big wigs having agreed to change their protest venue to the Sangjani area, in the outskirts of the federal capital.

     

    It should be mentioned here that PTI marched towards Islamabad on the “final call” of party founder Imran Khan.

     

    PTI demanded the reversal of the recently passed 26th Constitution Amendment, the “stolen mandate,” and the release of all party political prisoners, including Imran Khan.

     

    On September 8, PTI staged a rally in Islamabad. However, the November 24 protest was different as the party founder’s wife, Bushra Bibi, was leading the convoy along with CM KP Ali Amin Gandapur.


     
    Following the crackdown on demonstrators on Tuesday night, former First Lady along with Ali Amin Gandapur had fled from Islamabad to Masehra.

     

    However, CM Gandapur, while addressing party workers and media persons in Mansehra on Wednesday, declared, “This is not just a political demonstration but a fight for our fundamental rights.” 

     

    He also claimed that hundreds of his party workers were killed during the grand clearance operation in Islamabad, which the government denied.

     

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ataullah Tarar had, on Tuesday night, said that “no bodies fell in the operation.” Government officials and ministers have also alleged that PTI protesters caused severe damage to public and government property in the federal capital.

  • Matiullah Jan arrested from PIMS hospital

    Matiullah Jan arrested from PIMS hospital

    Prominent journalist Matiullah Jan has been arrested alongside journalist Saqib Bashir from the parking lot of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad on Wednesday night.

    Abdul Razaq Jan, son of Matiullah Jan, claimed in a video message that Saqib Bashir had been released after a while. However, his father was still “missing.”

    Matiullah Jan’s son stated that he was informed about the “abduction” of his father by Saqib Bashir at around 4 AM.


    Veteran journalist Hamid Mir took to X (formerly Twitter) to claim that Matiullah Jan was detained at Margalla Police Station.

    “We are informed that he [Matiullah Jan] is required in an FIR along with Ali Amin Gandapur and Bushra Bibi,” Hamid Mir wrote.


    However, no official response has been issued by the authorities.

    Matiullah Jan was also apprehended during the PTI-led govt in July 2020 from Islamabad sector G-6 but was released after a while.

  • PTI’s protest ongoing, will continue till Imran Khan calls it off: Gandapur

    PTI’s protest ongoing, will continue till Imran Khan calls it off: Gandapur

    Hour after fleeing from Islamabad to Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur has broken silence over the abrupt end to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) “decisive” protest in the federal capital, saying that the “sit-in will continue” until party founder Imran Khan calls it off.

     

    “This is not just a political demonstration but a fight for our fundamental rights,” CM Gandapur said while addressing party workers and media persons in Mansehra on Wednesday.

     

    PTI had on late Tuesday night called off its Islamabad sit-in “for the time being” after violent clashes with law enforcement.

     

    “In view of the government’s brutality and plan to turn the capital into a slaughterhouse for unarmed citizens, [we] announce the suspension of the peaceful protest for the time being,” PTI’s official X (formerly Twitter) account said in a press release on Wednesday morning.

     

    In his maiden public appearance following the developments, CM Gandapur accused the government of oppressive actions against PTI supporters and highlighted the “illegal detentions”, “uncalled for violence against peaceful demonstrators” and restrictions on freedom of assembly.

     

    He also claimed that hundreds of his party workers were killed during the grand clearance operation in Islamabad.

     

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ataullah Tarar had, however, on Tuesday night said that “no bodies fell in the operation”. Government officials and ministers have also alleged that PTI protesters caused severe damage to public and government property in Islamabad.

     

    Addressing media persons, CM Gandapur also complained that whenever his party announced a rally or procession, they were denied permission. “Even the courts are not providing justice,” he said.

     

    “When we approach courts for justice, we don’t get justice, nor do we get the floor of the parliament that is against the sanctity of the House. Our only option to deliver our message is to protest if we are not allowed to hold public gatherings,” Gandapur added.

     

    He claimed that the government was involved in direct attacks on him and Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi during the protest, and called out the federal government by saying that they had “broken Pakistan once before” and were “doing so again”.

     

    “Our province knows how to secure its mandate, it knows how to claim its rights, and it knows how to protect its people.”

     

    The government had on Tuesday night launched a grand operation starting from D-Chowk in Islamabad to end PTI’s protest campaign. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Information Minister Tarar at around 2 am addressed media persons to announce that the government had successfully quashed the demonstrations that continued for three days.

  • Aleema Khanum slams party leaders for leaving workers in the dark

    Aleema Khanum slams party leaders for leaving workers in the dark

    Aleema Khanum, sister of the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, criticised party leadership over the lack of proper guidance and absence of instructions to party followers during the recent protest at the federal capital.

    Aleema Khanum, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), asked, “Why was the sound and light on the container shut early evening [on November 26]?

    She complained that due to the absence of a sound system and lighting, “no instructions” were issued or guidance provided to the public in “complete darkness.”

    “We pleaded all evening for the lights and sound on the container to be turned on, but there was no response from those giving directions,” former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khanum said.

    However, she was not the only one who had complained about the lack of professional approach of party leadership; PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai also pointed out the absence of coordination among the party leadership during the recent protest march.

    Speaking to Geo News on Tuesday night, Shaukat Yousafzai emphasised, “Authority position holders have disappointed us.”

    Yousafzai asked why the federal government’s offer for negotiations was not pursued? and why there was no consultation on the government’s proposal for talks?


    Meanwhile, Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Federal Information and Broadcasting, on Wednesday stated that security forces had not used the weapon against demonstrators on Tuesday night, noting, “During PTI protest, government property was damaged.”

    Rejecting the claims that more than 30 individuals had died in clashes between security forces in recent nights, he maintained that some people want to do politics on dead people without having “evidence.”

    It should be noted here that following the Islamabad Police grand operation against PTI workers, the PTI founder’s wife, Bushra Bibi, KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur, and other PTI leaders and workers had managed to escape the federal capital.