The newly-elected Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, took the oath of office after being elected as the first female chief executive of the province.
The ceremony took place at Punjab Governor House in Lahore, where Governor Punjab Baligh Ur Rehman administered the oath.
Maryam’s father, Nawaz Sharif and uncle Shehbaz Sharif, both former Prime Ministers, were present on the occasion.
An old interview of former Indian tennis player Sania Mirza has appeared online with host Kamiya Jani, where she discussed her marriage with Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik. The pair are now divorced and Malik has gone on to marry again.
The interview, which took place in October 2022, sheds light on Sania’s experiences visiting Pakistan and the cultural dynamics of marrying someone from across the border.
“We go there actually once a year because Shoaib’s family still lives there and obviously Izhan goes to meet them, and you know we do meet them every year, once a year, and they come here once a year,” Mirza said about visiting Pakistan.
Discussing the differences and similarities between India and it’s neighbour, Sania acknowledged both aspects. Drawing on her South Indian background, she admitted feeling a cultural difference but highlighted the resemblance between Lahore and Delhi, saying, “If I was from Delhi, I wouldn’t feel that much of a culture shock. Because Lahore is a lot similar to Delhi. The way they speak, the way they eat, the things they eat, you know, all that kind of… Culturally, they’re just Punjabis, right? So it’s a little more similar.”
Despite the similarities, she noted, “But they are different in some ways also. You can tell, I mean, at least I can tell when there is a Pakistani speaking or an Indian person speaking…to another person, they might not be able to tell but I can tell the differences.”
In a surprising development, Shoaib announced his third marriage to Pakistani actor Sana Javed, leading to the revelation of his split with Sania. The newlyweds shared joyous pictures from their wedding ceremony on social media.
Shortly after, Indian news outlet PTI confirmed that Sania and Shoaib had divorced. Sania’s father Imran Mirza disclosed to PTI that Sania took a khula from Shoaib, officially confirming the end of their relationship. Taking to Instagram, Imran addressed speculation about his daughter’s marriage, emphasizing the need for privacy and confirming their divorce.
Senior Journalist Gharidah Farooqi wrote in her post on X (previously Twitter) that mobile signals are restored in Karachi but are still suspended in Lahore.
It’s election night in Pakistan, but mobile signals have been suspended in Lahore for almost 20 hours. According to the election results so far, independent candidates backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are leading.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) head Nawaz Sharif has cast his vote in NA-128 Lahore along with his daughter Maryam Nawaz. Nawaz Sharif cast his vote for the first time in nearly six years.
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.
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has written a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, claiming that police are arresting their supporters in Lahore’s NA-127 constituency, where party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is contesting in the February 8 elections.
PPP Secretary General Taj Haider wrote a letter to ECP claiming that detention of PPP supporters by the police has instilled fear in the constituency.
The letter mentioned that the police arrested Shahbaz and Shahzad, workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), for joining the PPP. They also arrested Khalida Parveen, a former counsellor of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), for supporting the PPP. When they reached out to the police, they were told that Parveen had been arrested in a case filed against her four months ago.
Haider said PPP’s Zulfiqar Badar contacted high officials for the release of the party activists, but to no avail. He feared that the fascist measures would multiply if police were not stopped.
The PPP leader requested that the CEC issue an order for releasing PPP workers and take action against the culprits.
The PPP chairman is contesting elections from the same constituency against PML-N’s Atta Tarar.
Cold weather has increased in different cities of Balochistan after rain spells while a drizzle is expected in Karachi tonight (Saturday). The cold wave in other parts of the country is likely to become stronger, the Meteorological Department has said, reports Geo.
The coldest temperature during the last 24 hours was hit in Skardu, where the mercury dropped to minus 9 degrees Celsius.
The federal capital, Islamabad, is shrouded in dense fog which is affecting the flight schedule. Three international flights to Islamabad have been grounded in Karachi and Lahore. Due to low visibility, more than 500 flights have been delayed in the first 20 days of 2024.
The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy fog in the plains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Upper Sindh during the next few days. Karachi is likely to remain partially cloudy during the next 24 hours, while the possibility of drizzle has also been indicated at some places this evening. On Sunday and Monday, the city is expected to be partly cloudy and cool at night.
The minimum temperature of the coastal city is expected to be between 13 and 15 degrees Celsius, while winds will continue to blow from the northeast and southwest in the city throughout the day.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced a list of its candidates for National Assembly (NA) seats for the upcoming general elections, set to take place on February 8, 2024.
The former ruling party has opted to nominate candidates from all 266 national assembly seats throughout Pakistan. Nonetheless, numerous constituencies have been labelled as ‘pending’, primarily due to disagreements in candidate selection.
In all, the naming of candidates in at least 34 NA constituencies is pending, including from Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Kasur, Khanewal, Sahiwal, and Pakpattan.
Former prime minister and founder of PTI, Imran Khan, is currently in Adiala jail after being convicted in the Toshakhana case. His nomination papers have been rejected.
Surprisingly, PTI has nominated candidates to compete against its former close ally Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, and his nephew, Sheikh Rashid Shafiq.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan is a candidate from NA-10 Buner-I, while Omar Ayub Khan is contesting from NA-18, Haripur.
A man killed two of his brothers-in-law in Hanjarwal, Lahore over a ‘personal dispute’, ARY News reported on Wednesday, citing police sources.
As per reports, a man named Fahad married a sister of the deceased brothers, out of their own free will, but the brothers took their sister back to her home.
Enraged, Fahad along with his accomplices, allegedly shot and killed his two brothers-in-law Muzammil and Mudassir when they were at work, at a milk shop.
Father of the slain brothers said that he had only two sons and five daughters and both sons were killed. The police has shifted the bodies of the victims to a hospital for their post-mortem after collecting evidence from the crime scene.
The police said that teams have been formed to arrest the accused after registration of the case.
Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Azad Jammu, and Kashmir (AJK), and their adjoining areas were jolted by a strong earthquake around 2:30 pm on Thursday. However, strong tremors were felt for only a few seconds. In Islamabad, people were seen coming out of high-rise buildings.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the epicentre of the earthquake was the Hindu Kush region in Afghanistan and the depth of the quake was 213 kilometres.
The earthquake was also felt in Peshawar, Gujrat, Gujranwala, and other regions of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Malakand, Upper and Lower Dir, Kohat, Swat experienced both light and strong jolts.