Tag: Lahore

  • Father sentenced to death for raping daughter

    Father sentenced to death for raping daughter

    The Model Court for Sexual Violence in Lahore has awarded death sentence to Rafiq for raping his 14-year-old daughter.

    The verdict was read out by Judge Mian Shahid Javed. The court also ordered that the father should also pay Rs 10 lakh as compensation to the daughter, adding that in case of non-payment, the criminal will have to undergo another six months of imprisonment.

    The court directed the jail superintendent not to carry out the death sentence until confirmation from High Court.

    A case was registered against Rafiq back in in March 2019 by Satwa Katla police station.

  • IG Punjab orders aggressive action against electricity thieves costing nation Rs600 billion annually 

    IG Punjab orders aggressive action against electricity thieves costing nation Rs600 billion annually 

    Inspector-General Police Punjab, Dr Usman Anwar, has directed top police officials in Punjab, including Regional Police Officers (RPOs), City Police Officers (CPOs), and District Police Officers (DPOs), to intensify efforts against anti-national and anti-social elements involved in electricity theft, which is causing a staggering annual loss of Rs600 billion to the national treasury. 

    In a special video message, Dr Usman Anwar emphasised that Punjab Police’s crackdown on electricity thieves has gained momentum, with over 1,000 cases registered daily, spanning the entire province, including Lahore. This financial loss surpasses the cumulative losses from 15 years of various crimes, such as dacoity and robbery, across Punjab. 

    According to Business Recorder, Dr Usman Anwar clarified that the scale of this theft far outweighs other criminal activities and assured that, following the directives of the Prime Minister and Chief Minister of Punjab, there will be no leniency for those involved in electricity theft. Offenders, regardless of their methods, will face legal consequences. 

    He expressed concern that innocent citizens must bear the financial burden of others’ theft, emphasising that no one will be allowed to rob citizens of their hard-earned money. Dr Usman Anwar urged citizens to cooperate with law enforcement, district administrations, and relevant institutions by reporting electricity theft in their areas to accelerate actions against these elements harming the nation’s financial interests. 

  • Major weather change on its way in Pakistan

    The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a forecast for heavy rainfall spanning from September 22 to September 24, affecting various regions of the country. Read the story to see if it will rain in your city or not.

    Met Office has confirmed that weak to moderate moist currents from the Arabian Sea are likely to penetrate in upper parts of the country from September 22, 2023. A westerly wave is also likely to affect the upper parts on September 22.

    Under the influence of this weather system rain/wind-thundershowers (with few moderate to heavy falls) are expected in:

    Kashmir (Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur)

    Gilgit Baltistan (Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar)

    Punjab: Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura.

    Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Kurram, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Haripur, Kohat, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi and Nowshera from 22nd to 24th September with occasional gaps.

    Rain/wind-thundershower is also expected in Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Karak, Waziristan, Mianwali, Sargodha, Khushab, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Bhakkar, Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan and Bahawalnagar on 23rd & 24th September with occasional gaps.

    Possible Impacts:

    Moderate to heavy falls may cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Lahore, Gujranwala, and Rawalpindi on the said dates.

    Moderate to heavy rains may trigger landslides in the vulnerable areas of Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Mansehra & Abbottabad from September 22-24.

    Farmers are advised to manage their crop activities accordingly. Tourists and travelers are advised to remain cautious to avoid any untoward situation during the period.

    Wind thunderstorms may damage loose structures like electric poles, solar panels, etc. The general public is advised to stay at safe places during windstorms/lightning/moderate/heavy rains.

  • May 9 attack; Imran Khan charged with ‘criminal conspiracy’

    May 9 attack; Imran Khan charged with ‘criminal conspiracy’

    The Punjab police have pressed charges of ‘criminal conspiracy’ against Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), and all other suspects in May 9 cases across the province. Official sources have disclosed to Dawn that a total of 50 cases were registered, encompassing charges under anti-terrorism and other relevant laws. Among these, 14 cases were filed in various police stations in Lahore and Rawalpindi, while nine were recorded in Sargodha, seven in Sheikhupura, five in Faisalabad, and one in Gujranwala.

    Moreover, the Punjab police have recently added offenses under sections 121 (waging or attempting to wage war or aiding such efforts against Pakistan), 131 (abetting mutiny or attempting to influence a soldier, sailor, or airman from their duty), and 146 (rioting) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) to the FIRs.

    Dr. Anoosh Masood Chaudhry, Lahore SSP (Investigation), while talking to the media, revealed that the police have also incorporated certain offenses/sections, including 34 and 120b of the PPC, into the May 9 cases.

    Section 34 reads: “Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention. When a criminal act is done by several persons, in furtherance of the common intention of all, each such person is liable for that act in the same manner as if it were done by him alone.”

    Section 120b states: “Whoever is a party to a criminal conspiracy to commit an offence punishable with death, imprisonment for life or rigorous imprisonment for a term of two years or upwards, shall, where no express provision is made in this Code for the punishment of such a conspiracy, be punished in the same manner as if he had abetted such offence.”

    As per the Lahore police’s investigation, Dr. Chaudhry stated that there appears to be substantial evidence confirming incitement to mutiny and the planning of vandalism on May 9.

    Responding to a question regarding Imran Khan’s presence at the crime scene, she emphasized that it is immaterial whether he was physically there or not, as evidence suggests that he incited the suspects to carry out violent attacks on sensitive installations of the Pakistan Army.

    Dr. Chaudhry further noted that the prosecution and police are awaiting final reports from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) concerning videos and other evidence related to the planners and perpetrators of the May 9 incidents. She assured that all objections raised by the prosecution have been addressed, and the challans for the May 9 cases will be submitted to the courts of law after receiving reports from the FIA and Pemra.

  • CM orders treatment for baby born with heart outside chest

    CM orders treatment for baby born with heart outside chest

    A baby boy born at the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, Muzaffargarh had the rare congenital defect of having his heart outside of the chest.

    According to Pakistan Observer, surgeons confirmed that the baby’s heart was located outside the chest cavity, and had a congenital heart defect with a hole.

    24 News has confirmed that on the instructions of Punjab’s Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the baby, named Abdulllah, will be shifted to Lahore’s Children’s Hospital on Tuesday for treatment.

    Before being taken to Lahore for further treatment, the child was admitted to Children’s Hospital, Multan.

    The chief minister also gave instructions for special arrangements to be made for the child’s treatment.

    The baby’s congenital defect is referred to as Ectopia Cardis, an extremely rare condition in which the heart develops outside of the chest wall.

    The condition, often accompanied by other birth defects such as cleft palate or a curved spine, can be fatal if left untreated.

  • Public Holiday on Sept 7 in Lahore

    Public Holiday on Sept 7 in Lahore

    A public holiday has been announced by Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi to observe the annual Urs (death anniversary) of Data Ganj Bakhsh Syed Ali Hajwari on Thursday, September 7, in Lahore.

    Naqvi announced the holiday on Monday after his visit to the Data Darbar in Lahore.

    The Urs will last for three days, starting Tuesday and going on till Thursday. The CM states that efforts are being made to make better arrangements for the event, reports Geo.

    “We also held a meeting with the commissioner about the langar khana so that everyone who attends the celebration can eat,” he said. He also stated that the best qawwals will be arranged for mehfil-e-samaa.

    Plans have also been chalked out for Lahore’s traffic, with arrangements for parking facilities keeping security clearances in mind.

  • Missing girl found after 12 years: The story of Saba Khalil

    Missing girl found after 12 years: The story of Saba Khalil

    On Friday, Urdu News published a detailed report on the return of a missing girl from Lari Adda.

    12 years ago, it was reported that 8-year-old Saba Khalil, a resident of Lahore’s Lari Adda, had gone missing. She had gone to the market and got lost on the way back home. After searching for her everywhere, the parents approached the police.

    Her father, Mohammad Khalil, used to sell naan chana on a cart in Lari Adda. He has two sons and a daughter.

    Failure of the system

    This year in May, Punjab’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr. Usman Anwar tasked his subordinates to take an initiative to find the parents of missing children. Mustansar Feroze, Chief of City Traffic Police, has handed responsibility for listing down children who have no guardians and for tracing their relatives to a branch of his department that deals with education.

    When the traffic police team compiled the lists of abandoned children in all 42 centres, the Child Protection Bureau came to know of 68 girls whose cases have been closed and whose parents have become almost impossible to trace.

    After receiving the list, a three-member traffic police team headed by Traffic Warden Mohsin Abbas Malik started the process of interviewing the children according to the order of the list. Saba Khalil was first in the list.

    The traffic police personnel had no training for this work, but they were determined to finish the task. The head of the team, Mohsin Abbas, told Urdu News that when he was interviewing Saba Khalil, the team of the Child Protection Bureau was also present.

    “Gaining children’s trust is very difficult,” he stated. Then they started questioning the girl in order to get whatever information they could. “She remembered a few main things: father’s name is Khalil, that he used to drive rickshaws in the area of Lari Adda, and the shop of Mithu chaiwala was near her house. And the tandoor.”

    Journey back home

    With this basic information, the traffic police team started the process of tracing Saba’s parents.

    Mohsin Abbas says that there were three people and all three of them reached the Lari Adda and went in different directions. The child was kept in the car with the child protection team. It was 10:30 in the morning and we decided to ask all the porters at the Lari Adda about Khalil. We had asked everyone for three hours, but no one was found.

    When Saba Khalil went missing 12 years ago, the area looked different at the time. Now major changes have taken place including the roads and paths. And for 20-year-old Saba sitting in the car, everything was new now.

    Theteam started searching all four sides of Iqbal Park up to Bati Chowk one by one. And they found a man named Khalil, but he was not Saba’s father.

    According to Mohsin, a shopkeeper in Taxali said that he knew a Mithu chai wala in a street adjacent to the Lari Adda. “We took him with us and took him to that street, but this Mithu was not the same person because Saba did not recognize that street. But in the same street we found three things together, there was a naan shop and a milk-yogurt shop. There were about 50 houses in this area. We decided to knock on the door of each house.”

    At around 2:30, the team went out to the other side of this street and saw another naan shop. Mohsin says that “The owner of this shop, Faqir Hussain, who was working inside, saw the girl and came out and said that he seems to have seen this girl. He asked ‘Is her father’s name Khalil?’ to which we nodded yes,” Abbas recalled.

    “He used to live here on rent and a few years ago he set up a shop in the old city side and shifted there. His daughter is also missing.”, recalled Hussain.

    It was around 3:30 PM when the traffic police team took Faqir Hussain and left for Phaja Siripaye Chowk.

    Mohsin Abbas says that they parked the car, taking Saba with them and started walking towards the naan shop which according to Faqir Hussain was Khalil’s shop. Outside this shop, a person was sitting on a chair and eating. As soon as he mouthed the first bite, his eyes fell on Saba and he became still.

    Mohsin says that every single moment is imprinted in his eyes. That man was standing there and his eyes were fixed on the girl. When we got close and he didn’t even notice us, I grabbed his shoulder and shook him. So he came to his senses. I asked if your name is Khalil. So he said yes. I told him to stand and I asked him, “Do you recognize this girl?” To which he replied, “This is my daughter Saba”, and he started crying.

    Saba’s father said while crying that “I just observed Friday prayer and cried and prayed for my daughter to find her.”

    Many people gathered at the spot. And every eye was full of tears. The father hugged his daughter and remained in a state of disbelief for a long time.

    Saba is still with the Child Protection Bureau as she will be handed over to her parents only after completing the legal process.

    Urdu News writes that many aspects of this story pose questions about the system itself, about the extent to which there is a lack of communication between the responsible agencies. Saba was just 10 km away from her home for 12 years.

    According to official data, the traffic police team has reunited 10 such children with their parents in the last two months.

  • TW: Four rape cases registered in Lahore on August 28

    TW: Four rape cases registered in Lahore on August 28

    TRIGGER WARNING: DISCUSSION OF RAPE, SEXUAL ASSAULT.

    In a horrifying case, four women were reportedly raped on August 28 in Lahore, according to Dawn. While First Information Reports (FIR) have been lodged against the suspects, some media reports have stated that the suspects have gotteb pre-arrest bails, while others have not been caught as yet.

    Two of these cases involve the survivor being tricked on the promise of finding a job. A student of class 9, who lives in Old Anarkali, filed an FIR revealing she was gang-raped by two men in a hotel room. The survivor said she met suspect A on social media. He offered her a job abroad and claimed he knew friends who were working in big businesses in other countries. On Aug 28, the suspect offered the survivor to work part-time at a hotel for a couple of months, picking her up from Kalma Chowk, took her to a juice corner, after which she was taken to a hotel belonging to his friend in Gulberg to discuss the job offer. The survivor said she was taken to a room where the suspect and his friend gang-raped her, and made video clips to further blackmail her. The culprits threatened to upload the videos on social media if the survivor filed an FIR.

    Another girl, a resident of Faisal Town, said her friend got her in touch with a man who promised to get her a job. The man picked her up from a restaurant where she was waiting with a friend, along with another man. Both men took the survivor to a house where they gang-raped her, fleeing the scene later. So far, no arrests have been made.

    The third case was from a resident of Amir Town, who said his friend, the suspect, had offered his wife a job to work at a hostel with a handsome salary. On August 28, the FIR states, the wife was out shopping, when the suspect called and asked her to reach a location from where he could take her to the hostel for the job. When the woman reached the given location, the man took her to a house and raped her, and then fled the scene.

    The fourth case was from the Manawan area, where the suspect took a woman to a house to return her Rs 45,000, but instead when the survivor reached the house she was raped and later the suspect escaped.

  • Parvez Elahi arrested again hours after being set free

    Parvez Elahi arrested again hours after being set free

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf President and former Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi has been arrested again after his brief release today.

    Islamabad Police arrested Chaudhry Parvez Elahi from Canal Road in Lahore, leaving with him for the federal capital. Earlier today, the Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to release Parvez Elahi, after the accountability watchdog’s decision to arrest the former chief minister of Punjab was challenged in court through a petition.

    After Elahi was brought before the court, LHC Justice Amjad Rafiq announced the decision, telling NAB at the hearing today that if Elahi is not produced today, the court will issue a warrant against the director-general of the accountability body.

    On the NAB prosecutor’s reply, Justice Amjad Rafiq said that there will be a complete inquiry, ordering Parvez Elahi’s immediate release.

    It should be noted that when Parvez Elahi first filed an application in the Lahore High Court, the court granted him bail in all cases. But against the decision of the single bench of the court, the Punjab government filed an appeal before a two-member bench, which suspended the decision of the single-member bench.