Tag: Pakistan

  • Pakistan officially bans shia militant organization Zainebiyoun Brigade

    Pakistan officially bans shia militant organization Zainebiyoun Brigade

    The Pakistani government has officially proscribed the Zainebiyoun Brigade, a Shia faith militant organization, as a threat to the security of Pakistan.

    The Khorasan Diary reported that the banned militant organization has backing from Iran as well.

    Interestingly, former Senator Faisal Raza Abidi had said in a talk show on GTV that, “40,000 fighters from Hezbollah and Zainebiyoun Brigade have reached Jerusalem out of which 233 are Pakistani fighters who came from areas of Parachinar.”

    In a notification issued on March 29 by the Interior Ministry of Pakistan, it was said that “Zainebiyoun Brigade is engaged in certain activities which are prejudicial to the peace and security of the country”.

    Under the Anti-terrorism Act of 1997, the government has made it a proscribed organization.

    The banned group is known for its involvement in the Middle East conflict and provided support to the Bashar-ul-Asad forces in Syria.

    The group had come under scrutiny from the authorities about its capabilities.

  • Sindh CM blames past care-taker government for alarming crime rates

    Sindh CM blames past care-taker government for alarming crime rates

    Amidst increasing crime rates and deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has blamed the previous caretaker government, again, for the problem – a claim rejected by the ex-caretaker home minister Brig (retd) Haris Nawaz.

    The CM made the claim while speaking to media after visiting victims of a road accident while en route to the Shah Noorani shrine.

    The CM was of the opinion that the previous caretaker set-up had reshuffled the police department ahead of the February 9 general elections, worsening the law and order situation.

    “This reshuffle affected the entire policing system, from additional inspector generals (AIGs) to station house officers (SHOs). However, the government is taking strict measures to improve the overall law and order situation, including in Karachi, rural areas, and particularly in the katcha area,” said Shah.

    Shah emphasized that PPP has always done the best for Sindh and recalled Karachi’s 7th ranking as the world’s most dangerous city by International Crime Index in 2008 before their government came.

    “But we restored law and order after coming into power and when we left the government in 2023, the same city of Karachi had improved its ranking and was ranked 128th on the same Index,” he said.

    Responding to Shah’s claims, former caretaker home minister Brig (retd) Haris Nawaz rejected CM’s remarks and said, “The Sindh CM has his own point of view, but we approved postings of the officers with good reputation”.

  • Will work with Iran: Zardari urges Iranian President to mutually share security intelligence

    Will work with Iran: Zardari urges Iranian President to mutually share security intelligence

    President Asif Ali Zardari, and the President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi, talked on the phone and greeted each other for Eid-ul-Fitr.
    President Asif Ali Zardari expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy to the Iranian leadership and the families who lost loved ones in the Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus during the conversation.

    Zardari voiced his worry about the humanitarian crisis and the genocide happening because of Israeli forces. He demanded an instant ceasefire in Gaza.

    President Asif Ali Zardari assured his Iranian counterpart that Pakistan would continue to work with Iran in all areas of mutual interest to further boost bilateral cooperation.

    He emphasized the importance of improving how information is shared to tackle the security issues both countries are dealing with.

  • Judges’ letter: Justice Yahya Afridi recuses from suo moto case

    Judges’ letter: Justice Yahya Afridi recuses from suo moto case

    Justice Yahya Afridi of the Supreme Court has withdrawn himself from the suo motu case that the apex court took up after receiving a letter from Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges, alleging complaints about intelligence agencies interfering in judicial matters.

    Justice Afridi, who was part of the seven-member bench hearing the case, added his recusal in a note attached to the written order issued after the first hearing.

    The judge said the judges should consider the issues in the letter from the IHC judges according to the code of conduct of the Supreme Judicial Council.
    “High Courts are independent courts under the Constitution. Article 184/3 should not be invoked on independence of high courts,” Justice Yahya maintained.
    The seven-member bench conducting the hearing of suo motu case is headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and comprised six other judges — Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan.

  • Shah Mahmood Qureshi hopeful for justice, says Shehrbano Qureshi

    Shah Mahmood Qureshi hopeful for justice, says Shehrbano Qureshi

    On Thursday, Shehrbano Qureshi, daughter of imprisoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, said that her father is hopeful and believes that justice will be served in the country.

    Talking to journalists outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail after visiting her father, she states that she met Qureshi last Monday and found him to be in good health.

    “Qureshi is very hopeful and seeing justice being done in the country,” the PTI leader said, adding that the bravery showed by six judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) boosted the courage of her father — who alongside the party founder Imran Khan is facing 10-year jail term in the cipher case.

    She also said that both leaders want to see a strong and stable Pakistan despite facing difficulties.

    Regarding the case against the former foreign minister, Shehrbano said that appeals against Qureshi’s sentences in the cipher case will be heard on April 16.

  • Was Imran allowed to say Eid ki Namaz in jail?

    Former President Dr Arif Alvi doesn’t think Khan was allowed to say Eid ki Namaz in jail, but even Alvi was confused. The former president first tweeted, alleging that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan was not being allowed to offer Eid namaz in Adiala Jail where he is currently incarcerated.

    On April 9, Dr. Arif Alvi posted that Imran Khan’s ban on Eid prayers reminded him of the British rule. He wrote about a famous leader in India’s freedom struggle when he was sentenced by the occupying authorities.

    He remarked, “He [Indian leader] remained in prison for four years and during that time Eid prayers were not even allowed. Because these oppressive rulers wanted to destroy the leadership of Muslim India, one of the various tactics to weaken their patriotism was to ban Friday and Eid prayers as well.”

    However, when it was reported that Khan was allowed to offer Eid prayers, Alvi modified his statement.

    Alvi wrote “Good sense has prevailed” in a post on X.

    But again, in a twist, Dr Arif Alvi, a few hours later again, condemned authorities that Khan indeed was not allowed to offer Eid prayer quoting Meher Bano Qureshi, a PTI member and incarcerated Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s daughter. According to Meher Bano, both Khan and her father were not allowed to say Eid Namaz, as was confirmed to her by her father. He further stated that another party member Ejaz Chaudhary wasn’t allowed to do so either but “he led the prayer with Omar Cheema in their cell.”

    He then edited his post with deploring fake news by saying, “in these times of falsehood and deceit no news source is trustworthy, except the crowdsourcing of PTI social media.”

  • Celebrities donate to cinema for Gaza auction

    Celebrities donate to cinema for Gaza auction

    Louis Theroux, Aimee Lou Wood, Nicola Coughlan, Peter Capaldi, and Jenna Coleman are among the many celebrities who have donated items to help Cinema for Gaza.

    Famous musicians, filmmakers, actors, and photographers like Annie Lennox, Jonathan Glazer, Brian Cox, Tilda Swinton, Misan Harriman, Gurinder Chadha, Juliette Larthe, and Naqqash Khalid have also donated to a Cinema for Gaza Auction.

    Film journalists and filmmakers Hanna Flint, Julia Jackman, Leila Latif, Sophie Monks Kaufman, and Helen Simmons have started Cinema For Gaza with a planned auction to help Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP).

    Many talented filmmakers from the UK and beyond have donated too. A-listers like Tilda Swinton, Jonathan Glazer, Ramy Youssef, Juliette Larthe, Peter Capaldi, Imelda Staunton, Brian Cox, Joseph Quinn, Mike Leigh, Misan Harriman, Joanna Hogg, Aimee Lou Wood, and Josh O’Connor.

    Juliette Larthe, who helped start PRETTYBIRD UK and made the award-winning movie IN CAMERA, is giving a mentoring session over Zoom. And the director of IN CAMERA, Naqqash Khalid, is giving a mentoring session and two tickets to see his movie.

    Some cool things in the auction are Tilda Swinton reading a bedtime story, special seats for the play Long Day’s Journey into Night with a chance to meet Brian Cox, signed movie posters from Jonathan Glazer, a photo taken by Misan Harriman, a small part in Gurinder Chadha’s next movie, handwritten lyrics to Annie Lennox’s song ‘Sweet Dreams’, and a Zoom serenade from Olly Alexander.

    Louis Theroux, Aimee Lou Wood from Sex Education, Nicola Coughlan from Bridgerton, and Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman from Doctor Who have also given things to Cinema for Gaza.

    MAP helps Palestinians living under occupation and as refugees by giving them medical aid and working on building up local healthcare. Right now, they’re helping with the emergency in Gaza.

    The auction is online until Friday, April 12th, at midnight BST. You can bid on the lots here.

  • Imran Khan not being allowed to have medical checkups, says PTI

    Imran Khan not being allowed to have medical checkups, says PTI

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) core committee on Monday strongly condemned jail authorities for not allowing a medical check-up of party founder Imran Khan.

    PTI wants Khan’s physician Dr Asim to examine the former Prime Minister.

    It also urged the court to take quick notice of the matter.

    In the party meeting, the panel also condemned the recent reference filed against the Islamabad High Court Judge Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani.

    It was of the opinion that the reference against the judge was part of the incumbent government’s efforts to pressurise and intimidate judges.

    The saga of ‘toxic letters’ sent to judges, who exposed the interference of spy agencies in the judiciary, was termed as highly regrettable and a part of an organized campaign against the judiciary.

  • Petition filed against IHC judge who wrote the letter alleging interference

    In a surprising turn of events, a complaint has been filed with the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against Islamabad High Court (IHC) Senior Puisne Judge Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, seeking his removal over alleged misconduct.

    The complainant, Waqas Malik Advocate, is a former secretary of the IHC Bar Association. He filed the complaint accusing the judge of pursuing an ‘anti-state agenda’ and also collusion with other judges.

    Justice Kayani is one of the six judges on March 27 wrote a scathing letter to SJC alleging deep meddling in judicial affairs by spy agencies.

    The letter had stirred a national controversy and even an inquiry commission was not enough when Justice Tassaduq Jillani refused to head the one-man commission.

    The Supreme Court took Suo Moto notice after Justice Jillani refused to head the commission.

    Coincidentally, the letter by IHC judges was followed by a series of threatening and poison-pen letters sent to judges of the higher judiciary by anonymous individuals.

  • Saudi Arabia to ‘expedite’ $5 billion investment in Pakistan

    Saudi Arabia to ‘expedite’ $5 billion investment in Pakistan

    The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has pledged to accelerate the first wave of a $5 billion investment package in Pakistan, stated in the joint statement of the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) released by the office of the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.

    PM Shehbaz and Crown Prince MBS held an official meeting on April 7 at Al-Safa Palace in Makkah Al-Mukarramah.

    At the outset, MBS congratulated the premier on assuming the office and expressed warm wishes for his tenure.

    Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed his gratitude and re-affirmed Pakistan’s commitment to bolstering bilateral ties and economic cooperation.

    Both parties agreed to expedite the first phase of the investment package worth billions.

    Analyst Mosharraf Zaidi pointed out that Saudi investments have not materialized in the past few years and even the pledges have gotten smaller.