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  • Israel continues arresting Palestinians: What we know about day 52

    Israel continues arresting Palestinians: What we know about day 52

    3,200 arrested by Israel in West Bank since October 7

    Palestinian Commission for Detainees and Ex-Prisoners’ Affairs has released a report revealing that 3,200 Palestinians have been arrested by Israel since October 7 in the occupied West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem.

    Among the arrested are 41 journalists, 29 of whom are in detention.

    This means that the total number of arrested Palestinians has crossed 7,000 since October 7.

    The total includes more than 200 children, about 78 female prisoners plus “hundreds” of sick and wounded people, some of whom need “urgent medical intervention”, the report added.

    The recent arrests are also said to have been accompanied by “widespread raids and abuse, in addition to vandalising and destroying of citizens’ homes, and severe beatings of the families of detainees” as well as the shooting of unarmed Palestinians, resulting in deaths.”

    How many prisoners and captives have been released?

    A four-day long truce between Israel and Hamas started on Friday and so far, three captives exchanges have taken place.

    Al Jazeera reports that 175 people have been released which includes:

    • 39 Israeli citizens released by Hamas, in three groups of 13
    • 117 Palestinian prisoners released by Israel, in three groups of 39
    • 17 Thais released by Hamas
    • One Filipino released by Hamas
    • One Israeli-Russian released by Hamas
    • Hamas said that in total, 50 women and children are to be freed in return for 150 Palestinian women and children in Israeli jails under the truce deal.

    Netanyahu has stated that the extension of truce can be considered if more captives are released at a rate of 10 per day.

    Two-kilometre long lines for cooking gas in Gaza: UN

    The UN humanitarian agency in Palestine (UNOCHA) has said that people in Gaza are lining up through the night in a line that stretches for two kilometres (1.2 miles) to refill cooking gas canisters.

    These ques were outside a filling station in Khan Younis in southern Gaza after Israel allowed aid supplies – including cooking gas – into Gaza Strip for the first time since October 7.

    The UN, however, claims that the “amounts fall well below the needs” and that people are reportedly “burning doors and window frames to cook”.

  • Imran Khan grilled for nine hours by NAB

    Imran Khan grilled for nine hours by NAB

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan faced intense questioning from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Adiala jail on Sunday in the £190 million National Crime Agency (NCA) UK and Al-Qadir University Trust cases as per Geo news.

    Sources revealed that four distinct NAB teams conducted separate interrogations spanning over nine hours, delving into various documents and posing a multitude of questions to the former prime minister.

    The initial team, comprised of an assistant director from NAB Rawalpindi and a member of the Combined Investigation Team, spent approximately two-and-a-half hours investigating Khan.

    Subsequently, a two-member team continued the interrogation, focusing on the £190 million and Al-Qadir University Trust cases.

    Imran Khan is slated to appear in different courts in Islamabad on November 28 and 30 for separate cases.

    Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain of the Official Secrets Act special court mandated Khan’s presence on November 28 for the cipher case, while his appeal against the Toshakhana criminal case conviction is scheduled for a hearing on November 30 before an Islamabad High Court(IHC) bench.

    Despite the Islamabad High Court declaring his jail trial null and void, doubts persist regarding Khan’s appearance for an open trial on November 28 and 30.

    The 71-year-old, who has been in jail since August 5 following a three-year conviction in the Toshakhana case, had his sentence suspended by the IHC on August 29.

    However, a trial court subsequently ordered his rearrest in the cipher case and initiated a trial in jail.

    Khan is sceduled to appear in the special court at the Federal Judicial Complex on Tuesday (tomorrow) for a hearing of cipher case.

    The police, administration and other departments concerned would hold a meeting on Monday to finalise the security plan for him, according to Online.

    Sources said the Special Branch of the police and other relevant departments had started collecting classified information which would help them in planning security for the former premier.

    Police sources said there were three routes to bring Imran Khan to the FJC — one is Peshawar Road, the second is Islamabad Expressway and the third is Murree Road.

    According to sources, Peshawar Road would be the preferred option to bring Imran Khan from jail to the Judicial Complex. The Red Zone is likely to be partially sealed on Tuesday besides important installations in and around the area.

    Sources said the judicial complex would be surrounded by the police and paramilitary forces.

    Important points and roads leading to the judicial complex would likely be sealed. Troops are also likely to be deployed near important places of the capital like Faizabad Zero Point, Srinagar Highway and Red Zone.

  • Cabinet approves seven MoUs for $10 billion investment deal with Kuwait

    Cabinet approves seven MoUs for $10 billion investment deal with Kuwait

    On Friday, during a session of the caretaker federal cabinet, seven Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) for investments between Pakistan and Kuwait were granted approval.

    These agreements are slated to be formally signed during the upcoming visit of the prime minister to the Gulf country, signifying a commitment to fostering economic cooperation and partnership between the two nations.

    The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar.

    As a result of dedicated initiatives by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), both countries will sign MoUs encompassing a range of projects.

    These projects span various sectors, including the expansion of water reservoirs, development of mining facilities, conservation of mangrove forests in coastal areas, advancements in information technology, and initiatives to bolster food security.

    The prime minister, presiding over the session, directed the facilitation of collaboration with the provinces to ensure the prompt and equitable implementation of the projects.

    The caretaker federal cabinet also endorsed the resolutions and actions deliberated upon during the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Affairs (CCLC) meeting held on November 14, 2023.

    Additionally, it gave its approval to the determinations reached in the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) meeting held on November 15, 2023, showcasing a comprehensive review and endorsement of key decisions across various governmental committees.

  • Petition filed for removal of President Arif Alvi

    Petition filed for removal of President Arif Alvi

    A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court against President Arif Alvi for misconduct and failing to carry out his constitutional duties by Ghulam Murtaza under Article 184 section 3.

    The President, Secretary, and the Ministry of Law have been made respondents in the petition.

    In the petition, the Supreme Court has been requested to carry out an inquiry into President Arif Alvi’s conduct, summoning him after investigations, and subsequently removing him from office.

    The petitioner argues that Dr Arif Alvi misused his powers as the president and insulted the office of the president. He states that the president belongs to the entire nation and not just one political party.

    The petitioner alleges that Dr Arif Alvi is guilty of unconstitutional action of having misused his office. He contends that the president neglected his constitutional responsibility, adding that it was the president’s job to give the date for the next general elections, but he failed to do so.

    The petitioner argues that the president was also guilty of illegally dissolving the assembly. He contends that Dr Arif Alvi did not ensure the implementation of the Constitution under Article 5 of the Constitution.

    The petitioner has requested the court to stop Dr Arif Alvi from working as the president and action be taken against him for alleged violations of the constitution and law.

  • Sheikh Rashid’s bail gets extended

    Sheikh Rashid’s bail gets extended

    An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi has granted an extension to the interim bail of former federal minister Sheikh Rashid in connection with 10 cases related to the May 9 riots.

    The bail has now been extended until December 9, following a hearing presided over by ATC Judge Malik Ejaz Asif.

    During the proceedings, the court adjourned the hearing at the request of the public prosecutor, instructing both sides to present their arguments in the upcoming session.

    Addressing the court, Rashid asserted that although there are a dozen cases against him related to the May 9 riots, he was not personally present at any of the locations in question.

    After the hearing, while speaking to the media, Rashid urged those responsible to focus on the country’s declining economic conditions and added that the people are concerned with inflation and not elections.

    Referring to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s return, the Awami Muslim League (AML) leader said that elections are “imminent”.

    On election day, people roaming in Murree “will face the music,” he said.

  • Khawar Manika wants legal action against Imran and Bushra

    Khawar Manika wants legal action against Imran and Bushra

    Khawar Maneka, the former spouse of former First Lady Bushra Bibi, has submitted a petition in the Islamabad sessions court, levelling accusations against Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI).

    Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi have been named as respondents in the petition. The petitioner has also provided a list of witnesses, including Mufti Saeed, Aon Chaudhry, Mohammad Latif, and the petitioner himself.

    In the petition, Khawar Maneka has said, “We were enjoying happy married life since 1989 until Imran Khan entered our lives behind the façade  of Peeri Mureedi and started visiting the house in my absence. Besides Imran Khan, Zulfi Bukhari also use to frequently come in my absence.

    Imran Khan used to spend extended hours at my residence, a behaviour that was not only unethical and undesirable but also contrary to Islamic principles.

    “My sister-in-law, Bushra’s sister, who is a staunch supporter of the Jewish lobby, introduced Imran Khan to Bushra,” the petition said.

  • No ‘illegal alien’ sent back on Friday thanks to verification process installed by Afghan Consulate General

    For the first time since the start of the repatriation plan of undocumented immigrants early this month, not a single ‘illegal alien’ was sent home via Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday as Afghan authorities has announced to link the acceptance of deportations with the verification of their status by the Afghan consulate-general here.

    The decision was made after multiple cases of Afghan-looking Pakistanis being deported to Afghanistan surfaced. “Multiple cases of Pakistanis being sent to Afghanistan as illegal migrants have been reported,” an official source in the Afghan Consulate told Dawn.

    Unfortunately, whenever Afghan authorities took such Pakistanis to the border, Pakistani officials refused to receive them.

    The other reason stated by Afghan consulate is the harassment Afghan deportees are facing at the hands of Pakistani authorities even though many of them are repatriating voluntarily.

    “Many illegal aliens are leaving Pakistan voluntarily but they’re stopped and taken into custody on their way before their repartition. They’re not given time to carry their belongings,” an official told Dawn.

    Afghan consulate expressed concern over the separation of families that has been observed over the month. They said in “many” cases, men from undocumented families were deported, leaving behind their female dependants.

    Pakistani authorities have said that they have not been informed about the deportation condition, claiming that all allegations leveled by Afghan consulate are “baseless”, delaying the process of deportation.

    “Only deportation is linked with the verification letter. The voluntary repatriation is still continuing without any hurdle,” Pakistan responded.

    However, around 119 illegal migrants were deported from Punjab to Afghanistan via the Torkham border crossing on Thursday, according to officials.

  • Artificial rain in Lahore to cost Rs 350 million

    Artificial rain in Lahore to cost Rs 350 million

    As Lahore battles with hazardous levels of smog, Punjab has been mulling artificial rain to dispel toxic pollution. The Punjab government has planned to carry out cloud seeding in Lahore to cause artificial rain, estimated to cost a whopping Rs 350 million.

    A summary for the same has been moved to the finance division.

    Earlier this week, Chief Meteorologist Chaudhry Aslam said that artificial rain is expected in Lahore next month and preparations are underway as the government raises its efforts to curb smog, reports The News.

    On Friday, the concentration of PM 2.5, or tiny particulate matter, in the air hit 269, considered very unhealthy, according to Swiss-based IQ Air. “PM2.5 concentration in Lahore is currently 43.8 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value.”

    In a press conference, Punjab Interim Information Minister Amir Mir said that the Chief Minister of Punjab, Mohsin Naqvi, wants to experiment with artificial rain during the current year. In this context, he announced, “Chinese experts will soon visit Pakistan.”

    Lahore and other cities of Punjab have been engulfed by heavy smog in the past month or so turning into a “poisonous gas chamber” where citizens continue to face serious health problems. Artificial rain is the most effective solution to reduce the toxicity of the air.

    To know more about cloud-seeding: How does the artificial rain happen?

  • Non-bailable arrest warrants issued for Marriyum Aurangzeb

    Non-bailable arrest warrants issued for Marriyum Aurangzeb

    An anti-terrorism court in Lahore issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Marriyum Aurangzeb, former Information Minister and a prominent leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), on Saturday.

    The warrants were issued after Aurangzeb’s repeated absence from hearings of a terrorism case filed against her last year.

    The case, registered on September 19, 2022, implicated both Aurangzeb and senior PML-N leader Javed Latif for allegedly “using religion to instill and spread hatred” against Imran Khan, the chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and former prime minister.

    The FIR

    According to the FIR, the complainant had said Latif accused the PTI chief of “attacking the basic principles of Islam” by “supporting” the Ahmadiyya community during his tenure.

    “When Imran made the Naya Pakistan, units of Qadianis became active in Karachi […] Did Imran not give interviews to the foreign media in which he said that Qadianis will be given religious freedom,” Latif had said.

    The FIR had said Latif made the controversial remarks at the behest of the party leadership as well as Aurangzeb in order to spread religious hatred against Imran.

    The complainant had said he watched another presser by Latif a day later wherein he insisted that he stood by his earlier statement.
    The complainant said, “The world knows Imran Khan for his welfare work. He is a true Muslim, a Prophet (PBUH) lover and a patriotic Pakistani.

    “He (Imran) made Quranic teachings in schools compulsory and also constituted Rehmatullil Alameen Authority. He also made it clear before the world through his speech at the United Nations that we will not tolerate blasphemy at any cost and raised his voice against Islamophobia which is matchless.

    “In his news conference, Latif declared Imran a non-Muslim and deliberately used words to incite his followers to create a law and order situation.”

    The FIR added that the PTI chief’s followers and supporters were enraged by the derogatory remarks of the PML-N leader.

    “Latif made the controversial remarks at the behest of his party leadership as well as Marriyum in order to spread religious hatred against Imran.”

    Complainant Rehman said that he had watched another news conference a day later in which Latif said that he stood by his earlier statement.

    He demanded action be taken against the PML-N leaders and others nominated in the complaint under the law.

  • Girl gang raped by five including TikToker friend in Rawalpindi

    Girl gang raped by five including TikToker friend in Rawalpindi

    A girl from Lahore, visiting her brother, was allegedly gang-raped by a TikToker friend and his accomplices within the jurisdiction of the Waris Khan police station in Rawalpindi, it emerged on Thursday, reports the Express Tribune.

    According to the complaint lodged by the victim, she was visiting her brother in the Sadiqabad area of the garrison city and had come all the way from Lahore.

    She befriended a boy named Sardar on TikTok, who invited her to 6th Road. Upon arrival, Sardar and an unknown friend picked her up in a car and took her to a house in Amarpura. After leaving her there, Sardar informed her that he was going to get food.

    During his absence, another person forcibly raped her. Subsequently, two unknown boys arrived and assaulted her. Upon Sardar’s return, he, too, allegedly raped her.

    The victim raised the alarm, attracting the attention of the neighbours. The accused dismissed them, claiming it was a personal matter.

    She seized this opportunity to contact Rescue 15.

    Meanwhile, Waris Khan SHO Inspector Malik Naseer stated that a case has been registered, with the main suspect Sardar and another individual named Mohsin already being detained.

    Raids to arrest the rest are underway, while the medical examination of the victim is being carried out, police said.