Tag: Rawalpindi

  • Did Gen (r) Faiz Hameed plans TLP’s Faizabad sit-in?

    Did Gen (r) Faiz Hameed plans TLP’s Faizabad sit-in?

    The commission set up to probe the Faizabad sit-in case has completed its report and is ready to submit it to the government and other authorities at any time.

    One of the members connected to the commission told The News that the investigation in the case is already complete and the commission can submit its report to relevant authorities soon.

    “It will be submitted to the government and other authorities at any time,” the source said.

    The commission interviewed many individuals, including some high profile persons like the then DG (C) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and former ISI chief Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, the then prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the then interior and defence ministers Ahsan Iqbal and Khawaja Aasif respectively and concerned senior police and civil administration officials of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

    The commission will focus on figuring out what the former ISI chief’s role was. Its report will reveal if Hameed was responsible for the Faizabad sit-in.

    The government formed the commission on the instructions of the Supreme Court (SC) to investigate who was involved in the Faizabad sit-in. The commission investigated who had planned, financed, and supported a sit-in at Islamabad’s Faizabad area six years ago.

  • Man assaults sister-in-law, nieces with shovel

    Man assaults sister-in-law, nieces with shovel

    A Rawalpindi native, identified as Riaz Shah tortured his widow sister-in-law and her daughters along with other accomplices by attacking them with shovels. The incident occured in Sher Zaman Colony of the Garrison City.

    SSP Operations Kamran Asghar has that the suspect Riaz Shah is the brother-in-law of the victim. A house dispute erupted between the two parties when the suspect asked for a share while the house is in the name of the late husband of the victim, reports Geo News.

    Riaz Shah has been arrested and a case has been registered.

    Taking notice of the incident, Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz has asked for immediate action against the accused. While seeking a report from police authorities, she has said that violence against women is not going to be tolerated.

    SSP Operations Kamran Asghar and other police officers also visited the house of the victim’s family and inquired about their well-being. They sought information about the incident and assured them of cooperation.

  • General (retd) Faiz Hameed’s brother arrested in bribery case

    General (retd) Faiz Hameed’s brother arrested in bribery case

    Former spymaster Faiz Hameed’s brother Najaf Hameed was arrested after a Rawalpindi court rejected his plea on Monday in a bribery case.

    The anti-corruption authorities arrested Najaf Hameed and went to Chakwal as instructed by the court.

    It is pertinent to mention that Hameed secured protective bail from the court after he was booked in a bribery case.

    In April 2023, the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) initiated an investigation against Najaf Hameed for assets beyond means and out-of-turn promotion.

    The anti-graft body sent a letter to the deputy commissioner of Rawalpindi and the DC of Chakwal, asking them to provide the land ownership records of Najaf Hameed.

    On February 13, he was suspended from the post of Naib Tehsildar in Chakwal over alleged misconduct.

  • ‘Have asked Shehbaz to engage politically with Khan’, Ali Amin Gandapur meets PM

    ‘Have asked Shehbaz to engage politically with Khan’, Ali Amin Gandapur meets PM

    Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, indicating a possible melting of ice between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

    Addressing a press conference with Ahsan Iqbal, Gandapur said that the meeting was positive. “I have asked the prime minister to politically engage with Imran Khan. Political engagement will lead to a political solution,” he told the members of the press.

    Gandapur also said Shehbaz confirmed that Gandapur would be allowed to meet Khan in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail where authorities have increased security and barred ex-PM Khan from holding meetings owing to “threat alert”.

  • Rain emergency in Rawalpindi, below zero in Quetta as cold wave takes over

    Rain emergency in Rawalpindi, below zero in Quetta as cold wave takes over

    The weather in Quetta became colder after rain and snowfall while a rain emergency has been imposed in Rawalpindi after heavy rains.

    The Department of Meteorology has stated that weather in Quetta Valley and its surroundings will remain partly cloudy today. After yesterday’s rain and snowfall, the temperature in Quetta has dropped to minus five, reports Geo.

    Due to severe cold in Quetta, rainwater has frozen on the sides of roads. Consumers are also facing a reduction in natural gas pressure.

    Additionally, the Meteorological Department has said that the weather will remain very cold and dry in the northern districts of Balochistan. Rain is expected at a few places in Ziarat, Zhob, Barkhan, including Quetta, and snowfall is expected in the mountains.

    The lowest temperature has been recorded as minus 7 in Kalat.

    In Punjab, intermittent rain is continuing in Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi. However, the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has imposed a rain emergency in Rawalpindi.

    As per MD WASA, 25 mm of rain has been recorded in Rawalpindi. Teams are engaged in draining with heavy machinery while the flow of rainwater has been recorded as five feet at Katariyan in Nala Lai and four feet at Gawalmandi Bridge.

    Chief Meteorologist Sardar Faraz has predicted clear weather in Karachi with no expected rainfall, but cold and chilly winds are anticipated to lower temperatures, reports Hum News.

    Riders on a motorcycle wrap a plastic sheet over themselves to shelter as they make their way along a road amid rains in Karachi on March 1, 2024. — AFP

    The maximum temperature is estimated to range between 22 to 24 degrees Celsius.

    Currently, Karachi is experiencing winds at a speed of 18 kilometers per hour, with a humidity level of 49 percent.

    The met office also noted that Karachi’s weather today will be chillier compared to yesterday.

  • Suspect involved in social media campaign against CJP Qazi Isa arrested

    Suspect involved in social media campaign against CJP Qazi Isa arrested

    Authorities have arrested a social media user suspected of being involved in a threatening campaign against Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, Geo reports.

    Sources of The News identified the suspect as a social media user named Abdul Wasay, who lives in Rawalpindi. They said he used social media to run a “threatening campaign” against CJP Isa, where he threatened the chief justice and tried to damage his reputation.

    “The rest of the people involved in the campaign will be identified and legal action will be taken against them,” the sources claimed.
    The government has formed a joint investigation team (JIT) to investigate people who have been spreading harmful information on social media about Supreme Court judges, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), and government officers.

    The JIT has been tasked to investigate mainly three specific points, according to a notification.

    “To ascertain facts behind malicious social media campaign attempting to malign the image of honourable judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, to identify and to bring the culprits to book in accordance with the relevant laws and cause presentation of challans in the courts concerned, and to recommend measures for prevention against the occurrence of such incidents in future,” read the notification.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Rawalpindi police arrest Imran Khan in GHQ attack case

    Rawalpindi police arrest Imran Khan in GHQ attack case

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the GHQ attack case pertaining to May 9 riots.

    The former prime minister was summoned by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Tuesday in connection with the GHQ attack case. Khan is already behind bars in cipher and graft cases.

    However, Imran Khan attended the hearing via video link, as he could not be produced in court by Adiala jail police.

    During the hearing, police officials asked for the custody in May 9 cases, but ATC Judge Malik Aijaz Asif declined the request.

    The ATC judge instructed the police to investigate the PTI founder in Adila jail.

    The development occurred days after the arrest of PTI’s senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the May 9 case after getting bail in cipher case from the Supreme Court (SC).

    Earlier, a local court in Rawalpindi approved Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s 14-day remand in connection with May 9 cases and sent him to Adiala jail.

  • Dense fog disrupts Islamabad flight operations

    Dense fog disrupts Islamabad flight operations

    Flight operations out of Islamabad International Airport have been greatly affected due to heavy fog in the federal capital and twin city of Rawalpindi.

    According to Geo News, three flights arriving in Islamabad were diverted to Lahore and Peshawar, while the arrival and departure of dozens of other flights have been affected.

    A private airline’s flight from Karachi to Islamabad landed in Lahore after half an hour of waiting in the air, while the Sharjah-Islamabad flight PK 182 also landed in Peshawar. The flight arriving in Islamabad from Dubai also shifted to Lahore.

    According to the aviation department, a British Airways flight from Islamabad to London and an Emirates flight kept waiting for clearance to depart for Dubai.

    Flights from Islamabad to Gilgit and Bahrain could not depart on time as fog reduced visibility.

    The reports of dense fog have been received from all around the city which is hindering the normal lifestyle.