Tag: Pakistan

  • Civilians to be tried in military court; Supreme Court decides

    Civilians to be tried in military court; Supreme Court decides

    The Supreme Court has, by a majority of 5-1, suspended its October 23 order that declared the trials of civilians in military courts null and void regarding the May 9 riots.

    The decision came in response to intra-court appeals (ICAs) filed by the federal and provincial governments, as well as the defense ministry, challenging the earlier verdict.

    A six-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Sardar Tariq Masood and comprising Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Musarrat Hilali, and Justice Irfan Saadat Khan heard the set of intra-court appeals.

    Justice Hilali differed with the majority decision.

    On October 23, a five-member apex court bench headed by Justice Ahsan unanimously admitted the pleas and nullified the government’s decision to try civilians in military courts in connection with the May 9 riots which erupted after the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-then chairman Imran Khan.

    Four judges out of the five declared that Section 2(1)(d) of the Army Act and 59(4) (civil offences) are “ultra vires the Constitution and of no legal effect”.

    “Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing the trials of civilians and accused persons, being around 103 persons […] shall be tried by criminal courts of competent jurisdiction established under the ordinary and/or special law of the land in relation to such offences of which they may stand accused,” the short order read.

    Following its verdict, the federal and the provincial governments along with the defence ministry filed intra-court appeals (ICAs). However, the caretaker government of Sindh refused to file any plea against the SC order.

    Justice Masood, who faced objections regarding his inclusion in the bench, refused to recuse himself.

    Former Chief Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and others had raised concerns about Justice Masood’s previous expressions on the matter, but the judge maintained his position.

    The Supreme Court’s recent decision to suspend the October 23 verdict means that the trials of 103 civilians will continue, with the final ruling conditional upon the Supreme Court’s subsequent orders.

  • Water theft of billions of rupees detected in Karachi

    Water theft of billions of rupees detected in Karachi

    Water theft worth billions of rupees has been detected under the Teen Hatti Bridge in Karachi. The theft was revealed in a raid conducted by Karachi Water Corporation, which found a 22-foot-deep tunnel under the bridge where water was being stolen.

    Chief Operating Officer (COO) Asadullah Khan told Geo that the tunnel is stealing water from the Rexar Line that provides water to Lyari, adding that the 33-inch line was built to provide fifty lac gallon water daily to the area. Through this line, four connections of eight inches each were taken out to steal water.

  • Hasan Raheem in love with a new band in Shahzad Roy’s school

    Hasan Raheem in love with a new band in Shahzad Roy’s school

    Veteran singer and overall good guy Shahzad Roy posted a super cool video on social media. In the video, heartthrob singer Hasan Raheem can be seen performing with talented young students at Zindagi Trust’s school, Roy’s pet project. The heartwarming moment showed how important it is to have music education. Plus, it proved how initiatives like Zindagi Trust can have a positive impact on nurturing young talent.

    Shehzad Roy is all about making changes in education in Pakistan. He even introduced chess as a subject in a government school.

    “‘Chess is gambling.” He shared, “I first heard this when I introduced chess as a subject in government school. Fast forward to today: Hasan Raheem has found his new band in the form of young girls of Zindagi Trust’s adopted government school, the same school, where both chess and music are now school subjects”,Shehzad Roy Wrote in his tweet.

    Raheem himself took to X (former Twitter) to share his feelings about the experience, saying, “Seeing these future leaders of Pakistan playing their instruments, cheerfully humming my song, Aisay Kaisay, made me realise that the future of our girls is shiny and bright. It was touching and emotional. Zindagi Trust, you have all my respect and love.”

    The video really captured the lively atmosphere of the school, where the arts are flourishing. Shahzad Roy’s post showed how proud he is of his educational initiatives and the amazing talent that’s emerging in the school.In the video, Hasan Raheem looked happy, surrounded by a group of talented young girls who not only share his love for music but also have some seriously impressive musical skills.

  • Hammad Azhar, Murad Saeed among PTI leaders declared ‘Ishtehari’

    Hammad Azhar, Murad Saeed among PTI leaders declared ‘Ishtehari’

    An anti-terrorism court has declared several leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) proclaimed offenders (POs) in three cases related to the May 9 riots.

    The decision was made by Judge Abher Gul Khan in response to separate applications filed by the investigating officers (IOs) of the cases.

    The IOs reported that despite strenuous efforts, the suspects, fearing arrest, had gone into hiding, making their apprehension challenging. Non-bailable arrest warrants had previously been issued against them, but the suspects failed to surrender to the law, prompting the police to request the court to declare them POs.

    Those declared POs in two cases of torching police vehicles near Jinnah House and Sher Pao Bridge are Hammad Azhar, Murad Saeed, Farrukh Habib, Azam Swati, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Hamid Raza, Karamat Khokhar, Khalid Gujjar, Sajjad Ahmad and Zubair Khan Niazi.

    In the third case, which pertains to burning the PML-N office in Model Town, Fawad Chaudhry, Hammad Azhar, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema and his wife Musarrat Cheema, Zubair Khan Niazi, Ghulam Abbas, Farhat Abbas and Hamid Raza had been declared POs.

    The judge also directed the IOs to submit details regarding moveable and immovable assets of the suspects so that proceedings for the attachment of their properties under section 88 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) could be started.

    It is noteworthy that several of these PTI leaders have already been declared POs in other cases related to the May 9 protests, including the attacks on Jinnah House and Askari Tower.

    Hamza Shehbaz wants an exemption

    In a separate legal development, an accountability court issued a notice to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on an application submitted by former chief minister Hamza Shehbaz. Hamza sought permanent exemption from personal appearance in the trial proceedings of the Ramzan Sugar Mills reference.

    Appearing before the court with his lawyer, Hamza Shehbaz’s application prompted the court to direct a NAB prosecutor to submit a reply by January 12. The NAB had reopened the reference, initially closed under defunct amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance 1999, following a Supreme Court decision that struck down those amendments.

    In the Ramzan Sugar Mills reference, NAB alleged that Shehbaz Sharif, then chief minister, and his son Hamza, in abetment and connivance, caused a loss of Rs213 million to the national exchequer by misusing their authority. The allegations revolve around the construction of a drain in Chiniot district primarily for the use of Ramzan Sugar Mills owned by Hamza and his brother Suleman.

  • Chances high for Nawaz to contest election after victory in Al-Azizia reference

    Chances high for Nawaz to contest election after victory in Al-Azizia reference

    The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) showed confidence regarding the “eligibility” of party head Nawaz Sharif to contest in the upcoming general election after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) acquitted him in Al-Azizia reference on Tuesday.

    This significant development can increase the chances of the PML-N supremo becoming a prime minister for the fourth time. Party leader Azam Nazeer Tarar has claimed that Nawaz Sharif is now eligible to take part in the election after the IHC’s verdict.

    “Today, Nawaz Sharif stands eligible to contest the elections. He will participate in the polls,” the former law minister said.

    PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb was also grateful after the acquittal.

    “Today, the reality of these false cases has been exposed to the nation,” she said, regretting that getting justice took seven years.

    Marriyum Aurangzeb also said that the people of the country faced severe difficulties during these years.

    “InshaAllah, Nawaz Sharif will become the prime minister for the fourth time with the nation’s votes,” she said, expressing hope that the PML-N supremo will lead the country to “prosperity.”

  • Ali Ansari’s new song is pure aspirational fantasy

    Ali Ansari’s new song is pure aspirational fantasy

    Singer Ali Ansari has released a new song called Escobar, and it’s getting a lot of attention. Unlike many Pakistani hip-hop songs that talk about going from poor to rich, Ansari does something different. He follows the Western style of showing off wealth, enjoying parties, and living a fancy life.

    In his song, Ansari proudly talks about being rich, making it clear that he lives a life that most people can only dream of. The music video adds to the overall effect by showing Ansari with fancy cars and piles of money.
    The term “Desi Columbia” is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the country’s cartels, making it seem like he’s as powerful and rich as a mafia boss or a big superstar. Ansari’s lyrics mention his expensive shoes that groove all night and the dollars around him. He even shares his playlist, including Jay-Z, to show his love for Western hip-hop.
    Even though Ansari admits that his dealings might be a bit “shady,” he confidently says he’s a millionaire, and everything is fine. The song might not be everyone’s favorite, but it’s different and definitely worth a listen.

  • PPP leader Abdul Qadir Baloch proposes election delay in security challenged regions

    PPP leader Abdul Qadir Baloch proposes election delay in security challenged regions

    Former federal minister and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Abdul Qadir Baloch has recommended postponing the general elections in areas that are not safe or facing security challenges.

    The PPP leader said in an interview on Saturday that by-polls can be conducted in these areas later, stressing that it will not be good to postpone general elections due to just six or seven constituencies.

    “Attacks by TTP in Balochistan are way higher than those by Baloch separatists,” the PPP leader said, adding that the terrorist organisation often targets Kalat, Mastung, and neighbouring areas.

    He also said that security threats are real because Baloch separatists don’t believe in the politics of parliament, calling the elements a hurdle for politicians to run their election campaigns.

    Abdul Qadir Baloch then said that interior minister Sarfraz Bugti should not have publicly talked to the media about threats to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, adding that it’s the caretaker government’s responsibility to give security to all politicians.

  • Tiktokers Maaz Safder, Kanwal Aftab slam Fahad Mustafa

    Tiktokers Maaz Safder, Kanwal Aftab slam Fahad Mustafa

    Popular TikTokers Maaz Safder and Kanwal Aftab have hit back at Fahad Mustafa’s recent criticism of YouTubers and lifestyle vloggers.

    In a recent episode of the “Nonstop Podcast,” Maaz Safder, joined by Kanwal Aftab and Jalal Karim, addressed Fahad Mustafa’s comments. Maaz Safder choose not to react immediately and highlighted the similarity in their work. He mentioned that everyone, including actors in films, have to support their families.

    Kanwal Aftab questioned the difference between selling something on social media and on television, pointing out that people on TV are also selling something. Host Jalal Karim added that family vlogging is usually watched by families, indicating its relatability.
    Maaz Safder further emphasized that normalizing slapping on television is not acceptable. It’s great to see influencers and vloggers standing up for themselves and expressing their perspectives.

  • NAWAZ IS FREE in Al Azizia Steel Mills Case

    NAWAZ IS FREE in Al Azizia Steel Mills Case

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday acquitted former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia reference, the biggest hurdle in the way of him contesting in the general elections.
    The only obstacle now for the former prime minister to contest an election is his lifetime disqualification as a parliamentarian.

    “It is unfortunate that if a former prime minister is facing such sham cases, then [we can’t imagine] what is happening to a common man,” senior lawyer Irfan Qadir told Geo News, calling upon the judges who convicted Nawaz to apologise to the nation.

    He also stated that, in response to the contentious Panama verdict, the Supreme Court had directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to initiate legal proceedings against Nawaz by filing references.

  • 23 soldiers martyred in a terrorist attack in DI Khan: ISPR

    23 soldiers martyred in a terrorist attack in DI Khan: ISPR

    At least 23 soldiers of the Pakistan army were martyred after militants attacked a checkpost with an explosive-laden truck in Khyber-Paktunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Tuesday.

    The ISPR added that the terrorists rammed the truck after their attempts to gain entry were “effectively thwarted”.
    “The attempt to enter the post was effectively thwarted which forced the terrorists to ram an explosive laden vehicle into the post, followed by a suicide bombing attack.

    “The resulting blasts led to the collapse of the building, causing multiple casualties; 23 brave soldiers embraced shahadat, while all six terrorists were effectively engaged and sent to hell,” the ISPR said.

    It added that sanitisation operations were being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists present in the area. “Security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthens our resolve,” the ISPR said.
    Separately, 17 terrorists were killed in an intelligence-based operation in the Darazinda area of Dera Ismail Khan.

    “During the conduct of the operation, terrorists’ hideout was busted and 17 terrorists were sent to hell,” the military’s media affairs wing said.

    ️ The ISPR further stated that two soldiers embraced martyrdom while four more terrorists were neutralised in another IBO in the Kulachi area.

    “️ The killed terrorists were actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces as well as killing of innocent civilians. Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered during the operations,” it added.

    This is the military’s highest single-day death toll from terrorist attacks reported this year. Before this, 12 soldiers were martyred in separate military operations in the Zhob and Sui areas of Balochistan in July.