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  • 15,000 civilians flee north Gaza in one day as Israeli forces move in: What we know about day 33

    Since Tuesday, Israel has conducted severe air raids across the Gaza Strip, targeting the vicinity of al-Shifa and Indonesian hospitals, as well as Khan Younis, Nuseirat and Jabalia refugee camps.

    15,000 civilians flee north Gaza

    Civilians from northern Gaza have been evacuating in large numbers as Israeli ground forces move into the area while air and artillery strikes continue.

    As of Tuesday, about 15,000 people fled while on Monday and Sunday 5,000 and 2,000 escaped respectively, reported the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

    Civilians fled in a four-hour period as scheduled daily by the Israeli military. These civilians include children, elderly and people with disabilities.

    Nuseirat refugee camp

    A number of people have been killed as attacks on Nuseirat refugee camp resumed at dawn on Wednesday, Wafa news agency reported.

    Al Jazeera reports that the killed and injured were taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital “in the centre of the Gaza Strip as surrounding areas continued to endure another night of intense bombardment”.

    Moreover, people are said to still be trapped under the debris of the attacked residential building.

    Humanitarian convoy targeted

    The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is “deeply troubled” after five trucks and two ICRC vehicles carrying lifesaving medical supplies came under fire on Tuesday.

    According to the statement, the Israeli attack resulted in the damage of two trucks and a driver was wounded.

    “These are not the conditions under which humanitarian personnel can work,” head of the ICRC delegation in Gaza, William Schomburg, said.

    “We are here to bring urgent assistance to civilians in need. Ensuring that vital assistance can reach medical facilities is a legal obligation under international humanitarian law.”

    All bakeries closed

    All bakeries in the north of Gaza have reportedly been shut down because of “lack of fuel, water and wheat flour” and the damage caused by Israeli attacks, the UN has confirmed.

    It has also been revealed that wheat flour is no longer available in the market in the north and additionally, it has been seven days since aid organisations have failed to deliver any food.

    Whereas only nine bakeries are still “intermittently” open in southern Gaza supplying bread to shelters only when flour and fuel are available.

    Credits Al Jazeera

  • Was General (retd) Faiz Hameed part of ‘Qabza Mafia’?

    Was General (retd) Faiz Hameed part of ‘Qabza Mafia’?

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan has rejected a petition against former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, accusing him of land grabbing.

    During a hearing on a human rights case against the former Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa heard the plea.

    Disposing of the petition, the Supreme Court told the petitioner that he had other relevant forums to approach.

    “The Supreme Court has disposed of the petition without discussing the merits of the case,” it added.

    The additional attorney general said that the petitioner can refer to the Ministry of Defence and retired military officers can also be court-martialled, said the top court.

    Justice Athar Minallah emphasized the distinction between the human rights cell and the Supreme Court, stating that the cell lacked legal authority or status.

    The petitioner’s claims centered on the alleged illegal actions of the former spy chief, which were purportedly aimed at gaining control of a housing project.

    The petitioner urged the federal government to take action against Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed and requested the court’s permission to present evidence for his arguments.

    CJP Isa noted the seriousness of the allegations and inquired whether the petitioner would appear in the case personally or through a lawyer.

    The petitioner mentioned that he had recently engaged a lawyer and requested an adjournment to prepare.

    However, CJP Isa remarked that the court will not order an adjournment and instructed the counsel to prepare for the case.

    The Supreme Court ultimately directed the petitioner to seek other appropriate forums for their grievance.

    The court also mentioned the option of approaching the Defense Ministry in the case of allegations against a retired army officer.

    The Petition

    A housing society’s CEO filed a petition with the human rights cell (HRC) of the Supreme Court seeking action against former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed over alleged land grabbing and stealing valuables.

    “On May 12, 2017, my house and office were raided on the orders of General (Rtd) Faiz Hameed. During the raid, valuables and records of our private housing society were stolen,” said the petitioner Moeez Ahmed Khan.

    In his petition, Khan said that the purpose of illegal proceedings against him was to take control of TopCity-1, a housing society located at Srinagar Highway in Islamabad.

    “After the raid, I along with my five other colleagues were kept in confinement. The federal government should take action against Gen (Rtd) Faiz Hameed, his brother Najaf, and others,” said the petitioner.

  • Fawad Chaudhry sent to Adiala jail on judicial remand for 14 days

    Fawad Chaudhry sent to Adiala jail on judicial remand for 14 days

    A session court in Islamabad has sent former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry to Adiala jail on judicial remand in a fraud case on Wednesday.

    After the end of a one-day physical remand, Fawad Chaudhry was brought before the judicial magistrate, Yasir Mehmood.

    The former minister’s council, Qamar Inayat, requested that the court remove his client’s handcuffs, to which the court agreed.

    The lawyer asked for time to hold consultations, upon which the court ordered a 15-minute break.

    After the break, Fawad Chaudhry told the court that it’s the third hearing, but a complainant has not been presented.
    After that, the court announced its decision to send Chaudhry on a 14-day judicial remand to Adiala jail.

    Later, Fawad Chaudhry said in his media talk that Nawaz Sharif should play a role in decreasing political tension.

  • Babar Azam dethroned as number one batsman after 938 days

    Babar Azam dethroned as number one batsman after 938 days

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released its latest ODI player rankings. Pakistan captain Babar Azam has lost the number one spot after holding on to it for 938 days.

    Azam has slipped to the second position, while Indian opener Shubman Gill has reached the number one position.

    Shubman Gill has got 830 points while Babar Azam is right behind with 824 ranking points.

    South Africa’s Quinton de Kock is third, India’s Virat Kohli is fourth and Australia’s David Warner is fifth.

    Pakistani star bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi also lost his number-one position in the ICC ODI rankings.

    Now India’s Mohammad Siraj is in first place with 709 points, while South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj is second with 694 points, and Australia’s Adam Zampa is in third place with 662 points. India’s Kuldeep Yadav is fourth with 661 points and Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi is fifth with 658 points.

    In the ICC all-rounders ranking, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan is first, Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi is second, and Zimbabwe’s Sikander Raza is third.

  • Teaser of Pak-Turkish series ‘Kudüs Fatihi Selahaddin Eyyubi’ reveals glimpses of a promising show

    Teaser of Pak-Turkish series ‘Kudüs Fatihi Selahaddin Eyyubi’ reveals glimpses of a promising show

    November is about to become an exciting month for Pakistani audiences with the upcoming Pak-Turkish collaboration ‘Kudüs Fatihi Selahaddin Eyyubi’, an exploration of the life of Ayyubid Dynasty founder Saladin, set for release. This is the first time Pakistani and Turkish actors are collaborating together for a drama, with veteran actors Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui and Pakistani film producers Dr. Kashif Ansari and Dr. Junaid Ali Shah.

    Siddiqui shared a teaser of the upcoming series which will pay homage to the legacy of Selahaddin Eyyubi and how his goal was to unite Syria, Egypt, Palestine and Mesopotamia territories under his rule.

    “He was a man with exceptional courage, deep sense of justice, and a symbol of honour and bravery. Here’s an ode to his chivalry, nobility, military prowess, and his ability to unite the Islamic world during the Crusades as we bring alive the legacy of Selahaddin Eyyubi on November 13, at 9PM on TRT.”

    Adnan previously shared the official poster on his Instagram account which featured main actors Ugur Gunes, Dilin Doger and Mehmet Ali Nuroglu. In the caption, the actor wrote:

    “Transport yourself to the 12th century and immerse in the extraordinary saga of Selahaddin Eyubbi, the revered warrior and the founding sultan of Egypt and Syria. The Selahaddin Eyubbi series is set to premiere on TRT, airing every Monday at 9 PM starting November 13th, bringing to life the awe-inspiring story of the sultan.”

    Speaking to Independent Urdu, producers Dr Kashif Ansari and Dr Junaid Ali Shah of Ansari & Shah Films said:

    “The idea to make a series on [Salahuddin] came about because he was a history-making undisputed ruler in the history of Muslims, admired and respected by Muslims and non-Muslims alike,” opined Dr Ansari.

    “This series isn’t meant to be just for the Muslims or Pakistanis or Turkish people. It’s meant to show a great Muslim ruler whose courage, bravery and just nature was appreciated by his opponents as well,” he further stressed.

    Junaid Ali Shah further elaborated that the target of the show’s audience is mostly the six billion non-Muslims who were unaware of the work of Muslim rulers.

  • G7 backs ‘humanitarian pauses’ in Gaza, reaffirms Ukraine support

    G7 foreign ministers said Wednesday that they supported “humanitarian pauses and corridors” in the Hamas-Israel war but refrained from calling for a ceasefire.

    The group also said after talks in Japan that their support for Ukraine in its war with Russia “will never waver” while calling on China not to support Moscow in the conflict.

    “We stress the need for urgent action to address the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza… We support humanitarian pauses and corridors to facilitate urgently needed assistance, civilian movement, and the release of hostages,” a joint statement said.

    The ministers also “emphasize Israel’s right to defend itself and its people in accordance with international law as it seeks to prevent a recurrence” of the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7.

    It added: “We call on Iran to refrain from providing support for Hamas and taking further actions that destabilize the Middle East, including support for Lebanese Hezbollah and other non-state actors, and to use its influence with those groups to de-escalate regional tensions.”

    ‘Overall security’

    The Israeli military has relentlessly bombarded Gaza since October 7, when Hamas militants launched an attack that left 1,400 dead in Israel, most of them civilians, according to Israeli authorities.

    The Hamas-run health ministry says the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 10,300 people.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday there would be no fuel delivered to Gaza and no ceasefire unless more than 240 hostages seized by Hamas were freed.

    He also said Israel would assume “overall security” in Gaza after the war ended, while allowing for possible “tactical pauses” before then to free captives and deliver aid to the besieged territory.

    However, Washington said Tuesday it opposed a new long-term occupation of Gaza by Israel.

  • NED University issues show cause notice to students for collecting funds for Gaza

    NED University issues show cause notice to students for collecting funds for Gaza

    A show cause notice issued by NED University of Engineering and Technology has surfaced online, which censures students for collecting funds for Palestine, terming it an act “tantamount to misconduct”, and asking the students to give an explanation within seven days.

    The official notice explains that a body of engineering students, assumed to be representing a political party, was collecting donations for Palestine funds without permission from a competent authority on October 25. This is seen as a violation of Discipline, Conduct, Welfare, and Code of Honour. The students now have to present their case before a university committee to provide an explanation as to why they should not be punished.

  • ‘Nawaz Sharif cannot play without his own umpires’: Imran Khan

    ‘Nawaz Sharif cannot play without his own umpires’: Imran Khan

    The legal saga surrounding Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s jail trial and the controversial cipher case took center stage in Islamabad this week.

    On Tuesday, three witnesses provided their testimonies against the PTI chief and his party’s Vice Chairman, Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

    Judge Zulqarnain presided over the proceedings at Adiala jail under the special Official Secrets Act court. PTI legal representatives included Barristers Salman Safdar, Taimur, and Gohar Ali Khan, while special prosecutors comprised of Shah Khawar, Zulfikar Abbas Naqvi, and Raja Rizwan Abbasi.

    During the proceedings, PTI’s lawyer, Salman Akram Raja, representing Khan, raised concerns over the trial’s confined space within the jail premises, emphasizing that it wasn’t in line with legal protocols.

    Family members met the two leaders before witnesses’ statements and cross-examination were conducted; legal teams consulted with Khan and Qureshi. The PTI chief met with his wife Bushra Bibi and sisters Aleema Khan, Noreen Khanum, and Uzma Khan, within the jail premises.

    Qureshi’s daughter, Meharbano, was also present during the trial. She also spoke with the media outside the jail, and demanded justice and a fair trial for her father.

    “Let the family in; no one can have security concerns from their family. Fair trial is my father’s right and as a daughter, I have the right to see the trial,” she added.

    Contempt of court petition

    Adiala jail superintendent responded to the contempt of court petition filed by Khan on Wednesday, requesting the court to dismiss the contempt of court petition.

    “Can’t even think of disobeying the court order,” he stated in his reply.

    The superintendent told the court there is no permanent facility to make phone calls abroad on WhatsApp. He informed the court that the PTI chief spoke with his children on October 18, after the jail took special measures to make the call possible.

    “Arrangements are made for prisoners to speak with family and lawyers at the jail PCO,” he said, adding that the court can direct the Punjab Home Department to amend the rules with regard to making phone calls.

    The court, meanwhile, adjourned the hearing of the contempt petition till Monday due to the absence of Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain.

    Islamabad High Court

    Islamabad High Court’s Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb asked the Attorney General of Pakistan to ensure that the cipher case trial was not conducted in an inappropriate manner, otherwise, it might collapse like a house of cards.

    An IHC bench, comprising Justice Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz, heard the intra-court appeal filed by Khan against his jail trial and the appointment of the special court’s judge in the cipher case.

    The court adjourned the proceedings to November 14, allowing time for the attorney general to present arguments.

    Nawaz wants his own umpires

    Talking to media persons outside Adiala Jail, Imran Khan’s lawyer Barrister Umair Niazi said the PTI chief had criticised PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and also rejected the trial of civilians in military courts.

    The PTI lawyer quoted Mr Khan as saying that Nawaz Sharif cannot play without his own umpires and is again looking towards them. All political parties, except the PML-N, are calling for a level playing field, he added.

    Khan expressed concern over the fresh wave of terrorism in the country and said this was because of a “weak” Afghan policy as Mr Bhutto-Zardari, being the foreign minister, did not visit Kabul to address the issue of terrorism.

  • ‘Painful to watch’: social media horrified after Congress votes to censure Palestinian-American politician Rashida Tlaib

    ‘Painful to watch’: social media horrified after Congress votes to censure Palestinian-American politician Rashida Tlaib

    On Tuesday night, the US House voted to censure Palestinian-American Representative Rashida Tlaib over comments she made on the situation in Gaza.

    Among the voters were 22 Democrats who backed a resolution saying Tlaib has been “Promoting false narratives regarding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and for calling for destruction of the state of Israel.”

    The death toll of Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes has soared to 10,000 civilians. UNICEF spokesperson James Elder has called Gaza “a graveyard for thousands of children”, urging world leaders to call for a ceasefire.

    Tlaib provoked ire by using the slogan ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’, which Republican politicians claimed was anti-Semitic.

    Speaking on the House floor, Rashida defended her stance and urged fellow lawmakers to end USA’s complicity in the genocide of Gaza.

    “I will not be silenced and I will not let you distort my words,” Tlaib responded. “No government is beyond criticism. The idea that criticizing the government of Israel is antisemitic sets a very dangerous precedent, and it’s been used to silence diverse voices speaking up for human rights across our nation.”

    Social media users were horrified by the censure, hailing Rashida as the bravest politician for having the courage to speak truth during a time of censorship.

  • Child domestic worker, 9, found dead at employer’s home

    Child domestic worker, 9, found dead at employer’s home

    Ehsan, a 9-year-old domestic worker, was allegedly sodomized and then murdered by his employer Shan Ali, an estate agent, in Lahore. The employer claims that the boy committed suicide by hanging himself.

    The incident occurred in Baghbanpura, Lahore on Tuesday as per the police. A murder case has been lodged while Shan has been nominated in the FIR on the complaint of the child’s mother, Nawab Bibi.

    The child, a resident of Kasur, was sent to work as a house help at Shan’s residence some five years ago. According to the mother, her brother-in-law, Imran, used to collect wages from the employer while family members were not allowed to meet the boy. They met him only once in five years. The suspect himself called the family to inform them that the boy has taken his own life. Reportedly, the alleged killer shifted the body to the morgue before the boy’s parents arrived at his home. She told the police that her son was sodomized and then hanged by Shan.

    The alleged murderer has already fled the scene, while the police is in search of the suspect.