Category: National

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  • Lahore High Court orders schools to arrange transport for children

    Lahore High Court orders schools to arrange transport for children

    The Lahore High Court, in a recent hearing, ruled that schools should provide transport to children after the winter vacations, while the government has announced a relaxation of smog restrictions in the city.

    Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court issued a three-page order on petitions regarding the smog issue.

    During the hearing, the court praised the Transport Department’s efforts to curb smog. Additionally, Punjab’s Advocate General informed the court that the provincial government is taking steps to control smog, including filing cases against those who burn crop residues.

    Meanwhile, the Punjab government has further relaxed smog restrictions in the city.

    Geo News reports that Dr. Imran Hamid Sheikh, Director General of the Environment Department, has issued a notification outlining these changes.

    The notification states that construction work is now allowed in four districts of the province, including Lahore. Brick kilns using zigzag technology will also be permitted to operate.

    Government and private offices can now operate with full staff. However, the decision to close shops, markets, and shopping malls at 8 pm will remain in place.

    Indoor and outdoor dining in restaurants will be allowed until 10 pm, while barbecues must install a hood system to operate.

    Heavy traffic will only be allowed to enter the districts from Monday to Thursday.

    These decisions apply to Lahore, Gujranwala, Multan, and Faisalabad.

    Earlier, the government declared a health emergency in Multan and Lahore – the two most polluted cities in the province.

    The Punjab government, in response to the severity of smog, imposed a “green lockdown” in Lahore, restricting commercial activities in identified smog hotspots and planning strict actions against violators.

    Previously, Secretary of Schools Punjab Khalid Nazir Wattoo announced that winter vacations in Punjab will begin on December 20 and end on January 10. This year’s break will last 20 days, a change due to shifting weather patterns, smog, and climate change.

  • FACT CHECK: Did PTI workers stop Ali Amin Gandapur from ‘fleeing’ on Nov 24?

    FACT CHECK: Did PTI workers stop Ali Amin Gandapur from ‘fleeing’ on Nov 24?

    A video of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has circulated on social media, showing party followers surrounding him and preventing him from leaving.

    The video has been claimed to be from the November 24 PTI protests, but journalists assert it is old.

    In the video, Gandapur can be heard urging party workers to let him go to the rest area for ablution, pledging to return after offering prayers.

    PTI followers blocked Gandapur’s car, fearing that the KP CM might escape from the scene, as he had done during recent protests.

    Last month, Ali Amin Gandapur disappeared from KP House in Islamabad, leaving thousands of party workers behind, only to suddenly appear before the KP provincial assembly in the evening.

    “We will go, Adiala,” a party follower can be heard replying to Gandapur.

    The video quickly gained attention, with netizens trolling Gandapur, claiming he wanted to escape to KP again.

    However, the video is old, and many journalists have since apologised for sharing it.

    Journalist Waseem Abbasi corrected himself after sharing the old video clip, noting he had been informed that the video of Gandapur arguing with party workers was from a previous incident, and he deleted the post accordingly.

  • Winter vacation dates for Punjab schools announced

    Winter vacation dates for Punjab schools announced

    Secretary of Schools Punjab, Khalid Nazir Wattoo, has revealed in a statement that winter vacations in Punjab will begin on December 20 and will last until January 10, reports Geo News.

    This year, the vacations will last 20 days, unlike previous years. The change is in response to shifting weather patterns, smog, and climate change, which have prompted the Punjab government to redesign its policies for the coming season.

    Initially, the schools were shut down by the Punjab government due to smog earlier in the month. Moreover, the school timings, along with the timings for office goers, have been changed. 

    In previous years, the schools were also closed by the Punjab for the same reason. 

  • Protest will continue till Imran Khan’s release: Bushra Bibi

    Protest will continue till Imran Khan’s release: Bushra Bibi

    Former first lady Bushra Bibi Monday said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) protest march will continue till her husband and party founder Imran Khan is released.

    “I will stand till my last breath and so you should stand with me too,” Bushra Bibi said in an address to party workers at the Hazara Interchange as her convoy makes its way to the federal capital for a “decisive” protest.

    “Even if someone does not stand by with me, I will stand [alone],” she said, adding that it was not only about her husband’s release but also for the country.

    She said that Pashtun were honourable people who would not abandon their “companions until the very end”.

    Scores of PTI workers, led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur and Bushra Bibi among others, have been marching on the federal capital on Khan’s call for a “do-or-die” protest.

    At the time of filing of this report, the main PTI convoy had reportedly reached Kati Pahari after passing Burhan interchange where police fired tear gas shells at them. The government has said it is determined to keep demonstrators out of the federal capital and quash the protest come what may, however, PTI workers and leaders are continuing to head to Islamabad, overcoming all obstacles for the second-consecutive day.

    Earlier in the day, caravans led by senior leadership of the PTI from all across the country on Sunday started their march on the capital. They, however, failed to reach their “destination” – D-Chowk in Islamabad – after meeting heavy resistance by law enforcement who resorted to the use of tear gas shells and non-lethal rounds.

    On Monday, the convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur and former first lady Bushra Bibi resumed its march on the federal capital, overcoming obstacles set up by the government from the Punjab-KP border near Attock till Islamabad.

    PTI leadership made it clear that they were in “no hurry” for their “do-or-die” protest as party workers and supporters across the country tried to evade arrest and police action.

    “Our destination is Islamabad, but we can take a day or two to reach there and let the government machinery remain panicked,” revealed senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser.

    Reports said that a majority of protesters marching towards the federal capital belonged to KP, while the leadership had failed to mobilise workers in Punjab and Islamabad due to police crackdown in the days leading to the protest. They also quoted sources within the party as saying that the people of Punjab and Islamabad were waiting for the “main convoy” to reach the capital for support.

    Multiple cases have been registered against PTI leaders, including Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, Aleema Khan and Ali Amin Gandapur. Omar Ayub and Arif Alvi have also been booked under terror charges over the protests.

  • PTI marches on Islamabad for second day despite heavy resistance

    PTI marches on Islamabad for second day despite heavy resistance

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday continued its march on Islamabad despite facing heavy resistance by law enforcement agencies amid closure of intra-city routes and cellular service by the government to quash the protest rally.

    PTI founder Imran Khan had on November 13 issued a “final call” for nationwide protests on Nov 24, denouncing the “stolen mandate” of his party, unjust arrests of PTI workers and the 26th Constitutional Amendment by the “dictatorial regime”. 

    With party leadership urging workers and supporters to join the march on the federal capital, thousands gathered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) — where PTI is in power — in the days leading to Nov 24 despite the Islamabad High Court (IHC) declaring the planned protest as unlawful. With the high court refusing PTI the permission to protest in Islamabad due to Belarusian president’s visit among other reasons, the government had expressed its resolve to bar the PTI from entering the federal capital come what may.

    Caravans led by senior leadership of the PTI from all across the country on Sunday started their march on the capital. They, however, failed to reach their “destination” – D-Chowk in Islamabad – after meeting heavy resistance by law enforcement who resorted to the use of tear gas shells and non-lethal rounds.

    On Monday, the convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur and former first lady Bushra Bibi resumed its march on the federal capital, overcoming obstacles set up by the government from the Punjab-KP border near Attock till Islamabad.

    PTI leadership made it clear that they were in “no hurry” for their “do-or-die” protest as party workers and supporters across the country tried to evade arrest and police action.

    “Our destination is Islamabad, but we can take a day or two to reach there and let the government machinery remain panicked,” revealed senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser.

    Reports said that a majority of protesters marching towards the federal capital belonged to KP, while the leadership had failed to mobilise workers in Punjab and Islamabad due to police crackdown in the days leading to the protest. They also quoted sources within the party as saying that the people of Punjab and Islamabad were waiting for the “main convoy” to reach the capital for support.

    Multiple cases have been registered against PTI leaders, including Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, Aleema Khan and Ali Amin Gandapur. Omar Ayub and Arif Alvi have also been booked under terror charges over the protests.

    Earlier, massive PTI processions from KP entered Punjab via Attock, Chach Interchange and Ghazi Barotha Canal. Another PTI convoy from Haripur reached Attock Bridge where it was met with heavy resistance from the police, leading to a clash.

    With the march continuing on the second consecutive day and main procession led by CM Gandapur still on its way – having reached Burhan interchange by the time this report was filed – citizens across Punjab are facing extreme difficulties as public life has been disrupted amid closure of motorways, all major roads and the shutdown of cellular service. Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus service has also been suspended besides the closure educational institutes in twin cities.

    Meanwhile, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has revealed that the country suffers a mammoth loss of Rs190 billion a day due to the closure of roads among other steps taken by the government to bar PTI from entering the federal capital.

  • PTI marches on Islamabad as govt gears up to quash ‘decisive’ protest

    PTI marches on Islamabad as govt gears up to quash ‘decisive’ protest

    Scores of workers and leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are headed to Islamabad for the party’s much-hyped and “decisive” protest to seek the release of party founder Imran Khan, as the government gears up to quash the powershow. 

    Khan had on November 13 issued a “final call” for nationwide protests on Nov 24 (today), denouncing the “stolen mandate” of his party, unjust arrests of PTI workers and the 26th Constitutional Amendment by the “dictatorial regime”.

    With party leadership urging workers and supporters to join the march on the federal capital, thousands gathered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) — where PTI is in power — in the days leading to Nov 24 (Sunday) despite the Islamabad High Court (IHC) declaring the planned protest as unlawful.

    The court had also directed authorities to take all necessary measures to maintain law and order, prompting the federal government to seal the capital city and partially suspend mobile and internet services in major parts of the country. Intra-city road networks have also been shut down besides the closure of public transport and student hostels in Islamabad and parts of Punjab.

    However, PTI convoys from KP left for Islamabad early Sunday morning. MPAs and MNAs of their respective constituencies are leading their convoys and would join the rallies at Burhan near Hazara interchange, reports said.

    Heavy contingents of police and Rangers are present on GT Road and the motorway at Attock’s Hassanabdal to stop the convoys from reaching Islamabad.

    In a social media post earlier in the day, Islamabad police shared pictures of its personnel stationed at various points across the capital to “ensure the imposition of Section 144”, which prohibits public gatherings.

    PTI, on the other hand, shared pictures and videos of several convoys en route to the capital.

    Meanwhile, the Nat­io­nal Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) has issued an alert for possible terrorist attacks during PTI’s march towards Islamabad.

    According to reports, an alert was issued after “technical and human” intelligence gathered by the top counter-terror authority revealed that terrorists were planning “major activities” in big cities of Pakistan.

    The terrorists, whom the government and the military refer to as Fitna-al-Khawarij, will possibly target the PTI’s protest “for their vested interest”, reports said. Nacta has sugge­sted authorities ensure ex­t­reme vigilance and he­i­ghten security measu­res to prevent the att­ack.

    Besides taking strict security measures, the government has also vowed to suppress PTI’s powershow with full force, deploying tens of thousands of security personnel, sealing major roads and arteries of the federal capital, and launching a crackdown on leaders and workers of the opposition party.

    Sources told The Current that dozens of arrests have been made over the past 48 hours and the government has identified at least another 1,500 PTI workers who could be arrested to keep them from participating in the protest.

    All public sector hospitals in the federal capital have also been placed on high alert to meet any emergency situation.

  • Bushra Bibi urges people to join Nov 24 protest; skips it herself

    Bushra Bibi urges people to join Nov 24 protest; skips it herself

    After urging people to join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) “decisive” Islamabad protest, Bushra Bibi, the wife of jailed party founder Imran Khan, won’t be attending the same herself.

    According to the former first lady’s spokesperson Mashal Yousafzai, she won’t be attending the “do-or-die” protest due to illness.

    PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, in conversation with a private media outlet, also confirmed that Bushra would not participate in the PTI demonstration due to ill health.

    It may be noted that the announcement comes amid severe backlash over a video message wherein the former first lady had hinted at Saudi involvement in her husband’s ouster.

    In a rare on-screen appearance, Bushra had on November 21 released a video message to urge people to take to streets for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) “decisive” Nov 24 protest. She had gone on to talk about her husband’s ouster as the prime minister.

    “The reason behind all powers standing against Khan hasn’t been told before. When Khan went to Madinah barefoot, Bajwa immediately started receiving calls about what kind of person he had brought [with him],” she said.

    According to Bushra’s allegations, Saudi leadership told Gen Bajwa that he had brought with him the “custodian of Shariah” at a time they were trying to “distance themselves from the Shariah system”.

    “After this, a smear campaign was launched against us, and [they] started calling Khan a Jewish agent,” the former first lady claimed.

    As the claims drew strong reactions from members of the government, PTI leaders and supporters alike – with only a few defending or clarifying Bushra’s remarks – her husband and party founder Imran Khan’s official account on X has posted an apparent clarification.

    “Bushra Bibi’s statement was deliberately taken out of context to draw our brotherly country KSA into a needless controversy. She didn’t mention Saudi Arabia at all. My government was toppled through conspiracies, all orchestrated by General Bajwa. I tried to have these investigated through the Chief Justice and General Tariq Khan, but General Bajwa did not allow that to happen. Bushra Bibi has no connection with politics; she only conveyed my message to the nation, as my wife, regarding the November 24 protest,” read the statement on X.

    Khan’s account also claimed that bilateral relations between Pakistan and KSA were at their best during his tenure and he personally shared “excellent” relations with the Kingdom. “I have excellent relations with Saudi Arabia. When I was attacked in Wazirabad, one of the first calls I received was through the embassy from HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.”

    “Saudi Arabia has always stood by us in difficult times. Only two weeks prior to our government being toppled, we held a very successful OIC foreign minister’s conference in Islamabad, which would have been impossible to do had Saudi Arabia not supported and stood with us,” the statement added.

    Former prime minister (PM) Khan has been in jail since August last year without any access to the internet or his social media accounts. Posts on his official handles have time and again made headlines over confusion surrounding actual handlers of said accounts.

    PTI maintains that all statements on Khan’s social media are conveyed via his legal team after seeing him at Adiala Jail.

    Meanwhile, convoys led by top leadership of the PTI are currently en route to Islamabad from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) as the party decides to go forth with its plans to demand Khan’s release by taking to the streets.

    PTI’s march on Islamabad comes reportedly after talks with the government ended inconclusively. The federal government, in light of an Islamabad High Court (IHC) order and the upcoming visit of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko to Pakistan, has denied PTI the permission to hold a protest rally in the capital.

  • FACT CHECK: Helicopter carrying high-level govt delegation WAS NOT attacked in KP

    FACT CHECK: Helicopter carrying high-level govt delegation WAS NOT attacked in KP

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Law Minister Aftab Alam has rejected reports that a helicopter carrying a high-level delegation of the provincial government was attacked while travelling from Peshawar to Kurram district.

    Reports had earlier in the day claimed that a helicopter carrying KP law minister, chief secretary and inspector general of police was attacked while heading to Kurram to sort the security situation in the wake of Thursday’s deadly attack on passenger vans.

    “No incident of firing at helicopter took place and entire delegation is completely safe,” Aftab Alam told Geo News.

    Over 40 people, including three women, were killed in an attack when assailants opened fire on a passenger vans in Ochat area of Kurram district.

    The attackers targeted the convoy travelling from Parachinar to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s capital, Peshawar.

    The incident led to countrywide protests against the government’s failure to protect the people of the area amid serious security concerns. It also led to worsening of the conflict between two rival tribes Alizai and Bagan.

    Another 18 people were killed in overnight clashes on Friday night.

    Fake reports regarding the attack on a government helicopter came as Kurram Deputy Commissioner (DC) Javedullah Mehsud said efforts were being made to re-establish peace in the area.

    DC Mehsud and Sajid Hussain Turi, a former PPP MNA from Kurram, confirmed that a high-level meeting was underway in the district for peace efforts.

  • Another 18 killed as deadly clashes continue in Kurram

    Another 18 killed as deadly clashes continue in Kurram

    A day after 44 people were killed in firing on a convoy in Ochat area of Lower Kurram, at least 18 others have died with 30 injured in overnight clashes in Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).


    The incident on Thursday occurred when heavily armed militants targeted a 200-vehicle convoy, which was en route under escort from Parachinar to Peshawar. No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

    Meanwhile, Kurram Deputy Commissioner (DC) Javedullah Mehsud said efforts were being made to re-establish peace in the area, reiterating yesterday’s statement. DC Mehsud and Sajid Hussain Turi, a former PPP MNA from Kurram, confirmed that a high-level meeting was underway in the district for peace efforts.


    Turi, one of the meeting’s participants, said KP Inspector General (IG) Akhtar Hayat Khan Gandapur, Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry and government spokesperson Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif were also attending the meeting.


    He lamented that the security provided to the convoy that was attacked was less than the required amount.


    DC Mehsud said officials of security forces and local administration were attending the meeting convened at the DC Conference Hall.


    “With the help of local elders, forces and the administration, peace will be established as soon as possible,” the official said. According to reports, the two tribes involved in the dispute are Alizai and Bagan.


    Sajid Kazmi, a leader of Majlis-i-Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM), demanded the formation of a joint investigation team (JIT) to investigate the attack.


    Speculation also surrounds the involvement of the banned terrorist group Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has recently been active in Lower Kurram, prompting fears among the residents.

    But government officials attributed the incident to the ongoing land dispute, ruling out sectarian motives.
    Businesses, educational institutions and markets remained closed across Parachinar and surrounding areas on Friday.


    An administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that mobile signals across the Kurram district had been shut down, describing the situation as “extremely tense”.


    The official also said a curfew had been “imposed on the main road connecting Upper and Lower Kurram”.


    Thousands of people participated in a sit-in in Parachinar, where protesters criticised the government’s failure to protect civilians. Hundreds also demonstrated in Lahore and Karachi, demanding that the violence be stopped for once and for all.


    Previous clashes in July and September of this year had claimed dozens of lives and were resolved only after ceasefires were brokered.

  • PTI leadership ‘discusses option’ to call off much-hyped Nov 24 protest

    PTI leadership ‘discusses option’ to call off much-hyped Nov 24 protest

    In view of former first lady Bushra Bibi’s controversial statement regarding Saudi Arabia and the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) decision against the party’s countrywide protest, the political committee of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is considering the option to call off its November 24 protest In Islamabad.

    The IHC, in a petition filed against PTI’s protest, has directed the federal capital’s administration to hold peaceful negotiations with the party, noting that if talks fail, the Interior Ministry should ensure order in accordance with the law.

    The verdict was followed by a video message by incarcerated former prime minister (PM) Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi, wherein she called on workers to not shy away from taking to streets, and hinted at alleged Saudi involvement PTI government’s ouster. The claims did not sit well with party leaders and supporters alike.

    In light of said developments, it was reported Saturday that a majority of PTI’s political committee members were in favour of calling off the much-hyped protest in case negotiations were initiated with the government.

    After the decision, a delegation of the PTI paid a visit to Adiala Jail for the party founder’s consent; however, a meeting with Khan could not take place.


      
    Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur hosted a meeting of party leaders in Peshawar to discuss strategy surrounding the Nov 24 call. The meeting came as the CM’s aide, Barrister Saif, stated that the party was considering to challenge the IHC decision and go forth with the protest call.

    Situation in Islamabad

    In view of the PTI’s reported decision, strict security measures are being taken by the federal government to tackle the former ruling party’s protest.

    While Section 144 has been imposed in the federal capital for two months, the administration has also sought an additional 8,000 police personnel along with the deployment of Rangers and Frontier Constabulary (FC).

    The government is also likely to suspend mobile services across the country.

    Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has issued stern directions to authorities to prevent the protesters from entering the federal capital, reports quoted sources as saying. Police vans have been delivered to Islamabad and necessary preparations have been finalised regarding the demonstrators’ arrest and where arrested party workers will be kept afterwards, they added.

    It merits a mention that Khan’s party, in recent months, has marched on the federal capital multiple times since after his arrest last year, with most protests ending in violent clashes with law enforcement.

    PTI’s Nov 24 protest comes in the backdrop of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko upcoming visit to the capital from Nov 25 to 27.