Tag: Chakwal

  • We now know the names of the officers arrested with Faiz

    We now know the names of the officers arrested with Faiz

    Sources have revealed the names of the three most senior retired military officers who were taken into army custody for acting as messengers between former Chief of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Faiz Hameed and senior politicians.

    The officers identified are Brigadier (retd) Ghaffar and Brigadier (retd) Naeem and Colonel Asim, who were allegedly involved in a communication network with politicians.

    Both Brigadiers are from Chakwal and are considered close associates of the former spymaster.

    Earlier, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued a statement claiming that three senior-ranking officers had been taken into custody for compromising military discipline.

  • Rain, snowfall on its way

    Rain, snowfall on its way

    The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rain and strong winds in Karachi today. In Lahore, strong winds have caused the temperature to drop.

    According to the Meteorological Department, it may drizzle at some places in Karachi, Sajawal, and Thatta today. Strong winds will continue to blow in Karachi till this evening with cloudy skies.

    There is a possibility of rain and snowfall in the mountains today in the Pothohar region, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, North Balochistan, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, reports Geo News. Various areas of the country including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Kohat, Malakand, Muzaffarabad, Diamar, Chilas, and Chaman received rain while snowfall was recorded in the mountains.

    Rescue teams have been put on high alert in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Talagang, and Murree due to strong winds and rain.

    Commissioner Rawalpindi said that they are monitoring the situation caused by wind and rain in Murree, the Deputy Commissioner has given specific instructions to Murree for necessary arrangements.

    On the other hand, in Azad Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, heavy snowfall occurred in Neelum Jhelum Valley, which affected the movement of traffic due to slippage on connecting roads, the weather became colder due to snowfall in Swat, Upper and Lower Dir, Karam district.

    Abbottabad and Mansehra are experiencing rain in the plains and light snow in the upper reaches, with up to 2 inches of snow in Shogran and 4 inches in Naran.

    Additionally, the western system of rainfall entered North Balochistan after which heavy rain and hailstorms occurred in Pak-Afghan border areas including Chaman, Qila Abdullah, Muslim Bagh, Toba Kakadi, Toba Achakzai, and Sheila Bagh.

  • Man kills wife and children before committing suicide in Chakwal

    Man kills wife and children before committing suicide in Chakwal

    The head of a household in Chakwal, suffering from financial problems, committed suicide after killing his wife and children.

    According to the police, Shafqat Saleem committed suicide after killing all four of his children and his wife in Muzdalifah Town area in Chakwal city.
    Police say that Shafqat Saleem shot himself after calling the police on the 15 helpline. His other victims were two daughters aged 14 and 16 years, and two sons aged 13 and 17 years.

    According to the preliminary investigation as reported by Geo, the victim had financial problems that he could not cope with.

  • Clashes between PTI workers and police amid general elections

    Clashes between PTI workers and police amid general elections

    Clashes have been reported between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and police officers, after imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan gave calls for rallies ahead of the February 8 general elections.

    Numerous PTI supporters attempting to organize rallies in cities like Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar were taken into custody during the crackdown, adding to mounting political tension. Reports also indicate police raids on election offices, confiscation of party paraphernalia, and the removal of banners and panaflexes, allegedly aimed at intimidating party workers and voters.

    In Lahore, former Punjab governor and PTI candidate for NA-129, Mian Muhammad Azhar, was arrested by the police during an attempt to lead an election rally in his constituency. He was reportedly released later in the day.

    His son, PTI Central Punjab General Secretary Hammad Azhar, took to X (formerly Twitter) and stated, “My 82-year-old father was arrested. He wanted to lead a rally as per his democratic and constitutional rights”.

    “Pakistan has today been reduced to a total fascist state with zero human rights or rule of law. One Nawaz Sharif and his daughter calling the shots and ruining the country,” he added.

    Despite the challenges, Mian Muhammad Azhar, upon his release, maintained that he had not committed any crime, asserting that his sole offense was organizing an election rally. He highlighted the apparent disparity in treatment, alleging that all political parties were allowed to conduct rallies and public gatherings, except the PTI.

    In Karachi, over 20 PTI workers were arrested as the party attempted to conduct an election rally near Clifton Teen Talwar. Violent clashes erupted between PTI workers and the police, turning the area into a battleground. The confrontations resulted in injuries to police officials, including SHO Boat Basin Riaz Niazi, whose jaw was reportedly broken.

    Police used baton charges and tear gas to disperse the PTI workers, leading to further injuries among the protesters. The clash disrupted traffic near Teen Talwar, Clifton, for a significant period.

    SSP South Sajid Amir Sadozai told Express Tribune that no prior permission was taken by PTI workers to hold a rally in Clifton.

    The PTI workers had blocked the road, following which the police asked them to clear the road.

    In reply, they attacked the police with stones and sticks as a result more than 10 police personnel including SHO Boat Basin and a lady SHO were injured. SHO Boat Basin’s jaw was broken and he is in critical condition.

    Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) chief organiser took to X and said, “They should be dealt with iron hands.”

    PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan condemned the actions of Karachi Police, emphasizing the constitutional right of every citizen to hold a peaceful rally during the election campaign.

    Similarly, in Peshawar, PTI workers held rallies across various locations in the city, including Ring Road. The police apprehended 30 individuals from Pahari Pura, Faqieerabad, Sharqi, Hayatabad, Khazana, and Sarband.

    Moreover, cases were filed against over fifty workers and community leaders.

    Seventeen individuals were mentioned in the FIR within the jurisdiction of Paharipura police station, with seven of them being taken into custody. Likewise, Faqeerabad police station detained seven workers.

    Sarband police arrested 17 individuals, while Hayatabad and Sharqi police each apprehended three PTI workers.

    Earlier, PTI Chakwal candidate Ayyaz Amir reported a peculiar situation emerging in Chakwal involving the police. He highlighted instances of police raids on the homes of prominent local citizens, arrests of their family members, and acts of vandalism against local leaders.

    Major election rallies were observed in various constituencies, including Lahore, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Okara, Chakwal, Mandi Bahudin, Layyah, Bahawal Nagar, Mansehra, Gagu Mandi, Chitral, Banu, Peshawar, Karachi, Hyderabad, and other cities.

  • Chakwal: Police seals Madrassa where 15 students were assaulted by two teachers

    Chakwal: Police seals Madrassa where 15 students were assaulted by two teachers

    Update: Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited one of the victims’ families on Sunday, and said the Punjab government would leave no stone unturned in providing justice to the victims and suspects would face the maximum punishment for the heinous crime. The district administration sealed the madrassa on Sunday.

    “We are ashamed over this incident, but at the same time, it would be unfair to blame all seminaries. Reforms should be made to address this issue,” the chief minister said and maintained that his government would do what it could in this regard.

    Chakwal police have obtained four days’ remand for the two teachers who have been arrested. “Fifteen students were brought to the hospital for medical examination. All of them carried knife and bite marks on their bodies,” Dr. Mohammad Haleem, the media coordinator of District Headquarters Hospital, told Dawn. He said the parents of nine victims had refused to proceed with the medical examination despite the fact that their children had complained of assault and knife and bite marks were also found on their bodies.

    “We have also recovered a knife that suspects used to inflict cut marks on the bodies of students.” According to the FIR, the suspects wrote ‘Z’ on the victims’ bodies.

    The DPO said that the management of the seminary was informed a month ago about the abuse.

    “Instead of reporting the matter to police, the management settled it on its own by expelling the two suspects on November 11,” he said, adding that strict action would be taken against all those found involved in the offence.

    When asked about the parents who had refused to pursue the case, the DPO said all the victims would be made part of the investigation.

    The victim’s father who took the matter to the police informed Dawn that his son wanted to be a Naat Khawan and that’s why he got him admitted to the madrassa. He went to meet the son and there the kid clung to him and started crying. “Had my son not told me, this heinous crime would never have come to light,” the father said.

    The management of the seminary, while talking to the media on Saturday, said it would cooperate with the police.

    Previously, Chakwal Police have registered an FIR against two teachers at a Madrassa for assaulting a 12-year-old boy, reports Geo.

    The FIR states that the boy’s father observed that his son was extremely perturbed. Upon asking, the boy revealed that the two teachers have made marks with knives over the bodies of many children, including him.

    A local hospital has also confirmed the presence of scars on the children.

    The police has arrested one of the two teachers while search for the other is underway. Both the teachers are not locals of Chakwal.

  • Met predicts more heavy rains during Eid days

    Met predicts more heavy rains during Eid days

    For Eid-ul-Azha on Sunday, July 10, the Met department has predicted a nationwide rainy spell, warning the relevant authorities to be alert during the religious occasion.

    The Met Office advised tourists and travellers to exercise extra precautions during the forecasted period.

    The weekend of July 9–10, Saturday, and Sunday, is when the monsoon system is predicted to strengthen and bring widespread rains. In Pakistan, Eid-ul-Azha will be observed on July 10 with the possibility of rain interfering with the festival’s rituals, which include prayers and animal sacrifice.

    According to the forecast, additional rain-windstorms with thundershowers are predicted for Islamabad, Kashmir, Swat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Kurram, Kohat, Mianwali, Sargodha, Hafizabad, M. B Din, Rawalpindi, Murree, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Jhang, Sahiwal, and Okara, intermittently between July 9 and July 12.

    On July 9 through Sunday, there is also a chance of significant rainfall in the following locations: Kashmir, Murree, Galiyat, Peshawar, Mardan, Kurram, Dir, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Islamabad, Potohar region, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Hafizabad, Lahore, Faisalabad, and Sargodha.

    In Mirpurkhas, Dadu, Karachi, and Hyderabad, it’s expected to rain, wind, and thundershowers with sporadic heavy falls. The following cities will be affected on July 8 and July 9: Thatta, Badin, Zhob, Ziarat, Barkhan, Loralai, Bolan, Kohlu, Quetta, Kalat, Khuzdar, Lasbella, Awaran, Naseerabad, Sibbi, Panjgur, and Turbat.

    From July 9, heavy rains could cause urban flooding in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Lahore, Gujranwala, and Sialkot.

    During the predicted period, flash floods could occur in the local nullahs of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Kashmir, Bolan, Kalat, Khuzdar, and Lasbella. In Kashmir, Galiyat, Murree, Chillas, Diamir, Gilgit, Hunza, Astore, and Skardu, rainfall may cause landslides.

  • Chakwal resident spends Rs35,000 to cancel Rs300 fine

    Chakwal resident spends Rs35,000 to cancel Rs300 fine

    A citizen hailing from  Punjab’s Chakwal district spent over Rs 35,000 challenging a traffic violation ticket worth Rs300 for using improper number plates on his vehicle. The challan was issued to him by the National Highway & Motorway Police (NHMP).

    As per reports, the petitioner Mohammed Noman Awan had to involve a lawyer, bear his travel expenses and deposit a court fee to register a writ petition against NHMP. He has approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to withdraw that challan.

    The petitioner challenged the NHMP act on the basis that there was no specific violations in the Motorway Ordinance under which vehicles on Motorway with improper/duplicate number plates was illegal.

    An official of the NHMP on February 27, 2021, had stopped Noman’s vehicle when he entered the M2 (Lahore-Islamabad) section of the Motorway from Balkasar Interchange.

    Motorway official told him that he was not using specified number plates on his vehicle. However, the police official could not state the exact law under which plying of vehicles on the Motorway with such number plates was a violation.

    Talking to Gulf News on Sunday, Advocate Saad Bin Safdar, the lawyer for the petitioner,  said it was not a matter of Rs 300 but it involved a substantial question of law and the petitioner had asked for the IHC’s involvement for its explanation.

    “Under the Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1956, only Motor Vehicle Registration Authority issues specific registration number plates that are computerised and of similar size and shape. For the motorists plying their vehicles in Punjab it is mandatory to use these plates on their vehicles. However, since Motorway falls under federal government’s jurisdiction, Punjab’s or any other province’s laws don’t apply there,” said Bin Safdar.

    Moreover, he said it is the basic principle of the criminal law that no conduct may be held as criminal unless it is precisely described in a penal law in the shape of unambiguous statutory text, he said.

    Justice Babar Sattar after hearing the petitioner has asked the Inspector General of the NHMP to submit a detailed reply by April 29.