Tag: Top News

  • Girl forcefully married to Karachi man shot dead in upscale apartment complex

    Girl forcefully married to Karachi man shot dead in upscale apartment complex

    Karachi’s Sahil police has arrested a man on charges of killing his wife on Monday at an upscale apartment complex in DHA.

    Quratulain, also known as Ainee, 22, was reportedly killed in a mysterious shooting incident on Sunday night at Emaar Tower in DHA Phase 8. The case was registered by Quratulain’s father Zubairuddin Khan who nominated her husband Abrar Bugti as the murderer, on which police formally arrested the already locked-up culprit.

    Ainee’s father stated in the FIR that Abrar asked for Ainee’s hand in marriage but he kept declining because of the latter’s bad reputation. On October 12, Abrar came to their house with police, producing a fake Nikahnama and a court order to hand over Ainee to him as he is her lawful husband, says a report by Express Tribune.

    Khan asserted that her daughter called him multiple times from their house-help’s phone and narrated incidents of torture and abuse. The security staff of Emaar Tower called him on Sunday and informed him that Ainee has been shot. “I along with my son and brother-in-law rushed to the Jinnah Hospital and found that my daughter had died,” related the woman’s father.

    The physical examination of the girl’s body revealed that there were two bullet wounds to the head and three on the body. A murder case has been registered under section 302 against Abrar Bugti.

  • Two PIA flight attendants go missing in Canada

    Two PIA flight attendants go missing in Canada

    Two flight attendants, Khalid Meh­mood and Feda Hussain, slipped away in Canada shortly after Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK 772 landed in Toronto.

    The spokesperson for PIA confirmed the ‘escape’ of the two senior flight attendants who vanished from the airport instead of coming back to the country.

    “On its scheduled return to Islamabad, the two senior crew members did not turn up in Toronto. The flight of the national flag carrier had to return back to Islamabad without the two flight attendants,” the spokesperson told the Dawn.

    Similar incidents have been reported in the past when members of the flight crew sneaked away upon arrival in Canada. Four of them have slipped away in 2023.

    According to ARY News, PIA has now issued a directive to include flight attendants aged above 50 years among crew members of international flights to Canada and other countries. This age limit is imposed in light of instances of young air hostesses and cabin crew slipping away upon arrival.

    Local authorities in Canada have been informed about the two staff members and their services would be terminated after a departmental investigation.

  • ECP rejects PTI’s claim of appointing retired officers as DROs, ROs in election 2024

    ECP rejects PTI’s claim of appointing retired officers as DROs, ROs in election 2024

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) claims that the electoral body is appointing retired officers as district returning officers (DROs) and returning officers (ROs) for the upcoming general elections on February 8 next year.

    On Monday, ECP’s Media Coordination and Outreach Wing said in a statement that the electoral watchdog didn’t take any such decision.

    “All media reports regarding the appointment of District Returning Officers/ Returning Officers are baseless and contrary to the facts. The media ran misleading news about the appointment of retired officers as District Returning Officers/Returning Officers. The commission is yet to take any such decision,” the ECP spokesperson said.

    He also stated that ECP has written a letter to provincial chief election commissioners and asked for the list of DROs and ROs to finalise the names. He also mentioned that the matter is in process and ECP will appoint the best candidates to make the general elections free, fair, and transparent.

    “It is being looked at from different angles so that the general elections are fair and transparent. The Election Commission is well aware of all its constitutional responsibilities,” the Election Commission said.

    On the other hand, PTI leader Omar Ayub tweeted on X (previously Twitter) that ECP is appointing retired officers as DROs and ROs to make the upcoming polls controversial. PTI’s Core Committee warned that the people will resist if their election mandate was stolen.

  • Supreme Court fines Punjab govt Rs10 Lacs for wasting its time

    Supreme Court fines Punjab govt Rs10 Lacs for wasting its time

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan has imposed a fine of ten lacs (Rs1 million) on the Punjab government for wasting its time by filing a frivolous case, ordering the administration to pay the money to the owner of the land they used without permission.

    The three-membered bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa dismissed the provincial government’s appeal filed against the verdicts of an appellate court along with the high court in favour of the land owner.

    The case was about a piece of land that the Punjab government constructed a road on in Gujranwala in 2007. The nine-marlas were never paid for. Liaqat Ali, the affected man, took to court, challenging the government and both lower courts decided in his favour.

    In the hearing on Monday, the Chief Justice questioned how the state built a road on the land without the permission of its owner and without paying him. “Neither the owner had gifted his land for construction of the road nor the state had acquired the said land,” Justice Qazi Faez Isa remarked and asked the Additional Advocate General Punjab as to why he had filed such a frivolous application in the court. “Is it our job to teach the provincial law officer the constitution,” the CJP reproached.

  • Nawaz on ‘Quetta’ mission; Tension in PMLN over toughest election – What is happening?

    Nawaz on ‘Quetta’ mission; Tension in PMLN over toughest election – What is happening?

    In the run-up to the February 8 general elections in Pakistan, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif is embarking on a two-day visit to Balochistan, following the party’s strategy to form alliances in all provinces.

    The move aligns with the recent invitation extended by senior MQM-P leaders to the party to forge an alliance against the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in Sindh.

    Sources reveal that during a visit to Lahore, Balochistan leaders urged Nawaz Sharif to visit Quetta and align with them for the upcoming polls, as per Dawn.

    “Since some of the BAP leaders earlier remained with the PML-N and incumbent Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, a former member of BAP, had a good working relationship with PML-N, the party of Sharifs may not face much problems in exploring strategic partners in Balochistan ahead of the polls,” they said.

    The party is eyeing at least 25 sardars/electables from Balochistan, crucial players in the region’s elections.

    PML-N Balochistan chapter president Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail said Mr Sharif would hold meetings with PkMAP Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai, National Party President Dr Malik Baloch, former CM Jam Kamal and BAP leaders, including Nawabzada Khalid Magsi, Sardar Muhammad Saleh Bhootani and some of the party’s senators, ex-MNAs and MPAs.

    Nawaz Sharif will also attend an event in which various ‘electables’ will announce joining PML-N, including former MNAs and MPAs belonging to BAP.

    Tension arises in PMLN

    Meanwhile, in Muzaffargarh, internal tensions arise within the PML-N as former municipal committee chairman Akram Chandia and his brother Ajmal Chandia join the party, potentially securing tickets for the upcoming elections.

    The move has irked former PML-N MPA Hamad Nawaz Tipu, who announced his candidacy, vying for both MPA and National Assembly seats.

    On the National Assembly seat, he lost to PPP’s Mehr Irshad Sial, who received 53,054 votes, with the runner-up being Jamshed Dasti securing 50,566 votes. Mr Tipu stood third with 47,642 votes. The MPA election also witnessed a close contest where winner Abdul Hayee Dasti received 17,686 votes, followed by Ajmal Chandia with 17,669 votes and Mr Tipu with 16,358 votes.

    Ajmal Chandia was a candidate for PP-270 as a candidate of Jamshed Dasti’s party in the 2018 elections and stood as the runner-up behind Abdul Hayee Dasti.

    While Mr Tipu and the Chandia brothers are in contention for the PML-N ticket, former MPA Chunnu Laghari has also announced joining the PML-N, and he is unlikely to face any resistance in obtaining an MPA ticket under Basit Sultan’s National Assembly constituency in Jatoi tehsil.

    ‘Toughest elections’

    PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif’s son Hamza Shehbaz said the Feb 8 polls were going to be the most difficult ones in the country’s history.

    Talking to journalists in Lahore on Monday, the PML-N leader said all parties should work together to steer the country out of crisis.

    In reply to a question about the role of the establishment and the PML-N’s relations with it, he said it was a good sign if the establishment supported the government.

    “It is also a good thing if there are cordial relations with the establishment,” Hamza added.

    Asked whether Nawaz Sharif was new blue-eyed of the military establishment, Hamza said: “When I was in the opposition, the people would call Imran Khan their blue-eyed.”

  • Boy who killed six of a family in accident says he was going to have McDonald’s

    Boy who killed six of a family in accident says he was going to have McDonald’s

    Update: Lahore Traffic Police has decided to register an FIR in light of the incident that took place on Saturday night. This is done to discourage minors from driving because a registered FIR will have life-long consequences. Previously, young drivers were issued traffic violation ticket or a challan as a sign of reproach but the latest incident of the loss of six lives because of a minor has provoked them to take stern actions against this issue.

    Lahore Traffic Police has released a video of the teenage boy who killed six people of a family in a road accident on Saturday. The boy named Afnan Shafqat, a resident of Askari 11 and a student of A2, can be seen in the video -posted on X- answering the questions of the policeman about the details of the accident.

    The boy learned driving from his cousins and has been driving for less than a year in his own words.

    On the weekend night, the boy, along with a group of cousins was on his way to McDonalds in DHA, Phase 7. Afnan explains that while they were crossing the barrier, driving at the speed of 110 km/hour, a car emerged from the right, driving at the speed of 10-20 km/hour, his car collided with the incoming one. The boy states that because of the barriers on both sides, the “driver had no choice but to hit the car.” However, he later on added that his parents did ask him to take the driver along but he said no.

    The police claim that the purpose of the video is that “parents and kids learn from this mistake” while on the other hand, netizens are criticising the police for showing the face of the boy, as yet a minor, citing a breach of privacy. Journalist Faraz Saeed said, “The loss of life is great, indeed, but young people should not be made subject of public humiliation and exposed to possible attacks, by posting such videos. The defendant has the right to privacy.”

    Section 21 of PECA laws says that the use of electronic means that may result in reputational damage or breach of privacy shall be punishable with imprisonment of up to seven years which may extend up to five million rupees or both.

    Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2023 also has moved a step ahead with section 30-C, which states that the trial of offences against minors shall be conducted in-camera. Moreover, section 31-A says that, whether or not a specific complaint has been made against the content, the NR3C, the FIA is in charge of gathering information before the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority blocks or removes it.

  • What is the situation of Air Quality Index in South Asia?

    What is the situation of Air Quality Index in South Asia?

    Six of the top ten cities plagued by the worst pollution on the Air Quality Index are from the South Asian region. Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata from India, Lahore and Karachi from Pakistan, and Dhaka from Bangladesh.

    Post-Diwali, the air quality index in India is pretty bad as three of its highly-populated cities are facing a rise in air pollution. While Delhi is at the top, Mumbai and Kolkata are competing closely for the sixth and seventh spot on the chart.

    Lahore has seen a major drop in the past few days after a short spell of rain, however, the air is steadily getting dense as it retained its second position in the chart for two days in a row. Karachi holds the fourth spot after Baghdad.

    The Capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, is a relatively new entrant. It holds the tenth position with an “unhealthy” status in air quality.

    Population growth and rapid industrialization are the two major factors contributing to the thickening of air with particulate pollutants in South Asia. This is a threat to all living beings, from animals to plants. Life expectancy is severely reduced in these cities and pollution-related illnesses are rampant. The situation of the poor quality index calls for strict action to be taken for the safety of residents of the world’s most populous region-South Asia.

  • Senate passed resolution against Supreme Court decision on civilian trials in military courts

    The Senate of Pakistan passed a resolution on Monday against the Supreme Court’s decision on civilians’ trial in the military courts, urging that the implementation of the judgment be stopped “unless it is considered by a larger bench.”

    A five member bench of Supreme Court (SC) last month unanimously declared civilians’ trial in military courts null and void.

    “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.

    Independent Senator Dilawar Khan from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) moved the resolution on Monday, stating that the decision is legally flawed as the larger bench did not announce the verdict and should not be implemented.
    The resolution observed with “apprehension that the invalidation of the jurisdiction of army courts is likely to facilitate vandals and abettors of terrorism and anti-state activities”.

    “The Senate of Pakistan calls upon the apex court to reconsider its decision, urging alignment with the national security paradigm and sacrifices of the martyrs in order to address the concerns raised regarding the ramifications of the judgment on the security and stability of the nation.”

  • Arrest warrants issued for Imran Khan in two more cases

    Arrest warrants issued for Imran Khan in two more cases

    An Accountability Court in Islamabad on Monday issued arrest warrants for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in cases pertaining to the Toshakhana and 190-million-pound Al-Qadir Trust. 

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed an application to comply with the arrest warrants of Chairman PTI.

    Judge Mohammad Bashir conducted the hearing on the two cases where NABfiled an application seeking Khan’s arrest warrants.

    Judge Bashir approved the issuance of the warrants while directing the jail superintendent to take measures to ensure the warrants were complied with.

    Deputy Prosecutor General NAB Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi, Prosecutor Irfan Bhola, Investigation Officers Mohsin, Waqarul Hasan, Mian Umar Nadeem, and others appeared before the court.

    The court asked the prosecutor what the High Court did in these cases.

    To which the prosecutor replied that the matter was pending, mentioning that the court neither suspended the order nor issued a standing order.

    The warrants are expected to be complied with in jail today. Imran Khan will be provided with a copy of the warrant as well as briefed about the reasons for his arrest.

    Sources said that the NAB has decided to immediately arrest Khan after the issuance of his arrest warrants, as per Aaj News.

    The anti-graft body is likely to arrest the PTI chief today from Adiala jail where a team including investigation officers of the Bureau will arrive to ensure compliance with the warrants, they added.

    The former prime minister is currently being held in Adiala jail after his arrest from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore on August 5.

    He was moved to the prison on September 26 from Attock jail where he was initially kept after his arrest.

    Bushra Bibi in trouble

    Earlier today, former First Lady Bushra Bibi was summoned by NAB in a £190 million case, and as per media reports her arrest could be on the cards.

    Bushra was summoned at 2 pm to the NAB office in G-6 in Islamabad. Farhat Shahzadi, alias Farah Gogi, a former close aide of Bushra, has also been summoned in the same case today.

    Moreover, NAB also provided Bushra Bibi with an 11-point questionnaire in the Al-Qadir Trust case. 

    During her appearance in the NAB office, Bushra Bibi was questioned about Farah Gogi.

    The questionnaire given to her also included queries about her relations with Farah Gogi, the reasons for creating Al-Qadir Trust, whether she took any courses in jurisprudence or pedagogy, whether she continued to receive benefits from Al-Qadir Trust as a teacher, whether she was satisfied with Farah Gogi’s financial affairs and if Malik Riaz himself showed interest in Al-Qadir Trust or she contacted him. 

  • Lahore court orders closure of schools on Saturday, work-from-home twice a week

    Lahore court orders closure of schools on Saturday, work-from-home twice a week

    Justice Shahid Kareem of the Lahore High Court on Monday ordered the caretaker provincial government to close all educational institutions on Saturdays across the province. The judge also ordered that work-from-home-policy be enforced two days a week for offices. 

    The ruling was passed during a hearing of a petition pertaining to the measures taken by the Punjab government to control air pollution. “Commissioner Lahore has failed completely in controlling smog. He talks big but nothing happens on the ground. Just a notification is issued to shut everything,” he reprimanded the authorities of Lahore. 

    “Videos of crop residual burning being shared are very disappointing,” Justice Karim said, ordering the instant removal of deputy commissionaires in Sheikhupura, Jhang, Hafizabad, Khanewal, Nankana and Bahawalnagar, citing the deteriorating situation of smog in these districts. He ordered the Chief Secretary to immediately issue a notification to transfer the aforementioned officers.