Tag: Top News

  • ‘Imran Khan won’t return to power’: Maulana Fazlur Rehman

    ‘Imran Khan won’t return to power’: Maulana Fazlur Rehman

    While talking to the media after attending a training convention as the chief guest at Jamia Uloom-i-Sharia, Jamiat Ulama e Islam (Fazlur Rehman) emir Maulana Fazlur Rehman said,

    “It is out of the question that Imran, who is a product of a fake and bogus election, will return to power again.”

    He further said, “He has been disqualified because of his performance; his disqualification is a direct result of his own rule, governance, and policies.”

    He added that many in PTI are booked in several cases and will have to clear their names from cases pending in courts if they wish to contest the elections.

    While talking about general elections, he raised concerns over holding elections in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at a time when they face extreme winters.

    “In January, weather would be harsh in Chitral, Khuzdar, and other parts of KP and Balochistan,” he said, adding that despite concerns, his party won’t demand any delay in polls.

    The JUI-F is ready to contest elections whenever the Election Commission announces a date, he said, adding that he is against the philosophy of “Caretaker Government”.

    “I don’t recognize the caretaker government because in [this] government, ‘caretakers’ are someone else,” he said in an apparent reference to the establishment.

  • Inquiry launched into killing of four villagers during operation in Sakrand

    Inquiry launched into killing of four villagers during operation in Sakrand

    Caretaker Chief Minister of Sindh, Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar, has on Saturday initiated an inquiry into the tragic incident in Sakrand, where four villagers lost their lives during a law enforcement operation. The CM has called for a comprehensive report on the incident within four days.

    The operation, carried out by law enforcement agencies, aimed to apprehend militants associated with the banned Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army. In the course of the operation, four individuals were killed, and nine others, including four Rangers personnel, sustained injuries. A Rangers spokesman released a statement mentioning that the operation was intelligence-based and targeted high-value individuals, as per Dawn.

    However, Sindh United Party (SUP) Secretary General Roshan Burriro claimed that those killed were supporters and revealed that a confrontation had ensued between security forces and villagers. The situation escalated when law enforcement officers opened fire, resulting in tragic deaths and injuries.

    Subsequently, grieving villagers staged a protest and blocked a section of the National Highway while carrying the coffins of the deceased individuals.

    The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) took to X (former Twitter) to demand an independent investigation into the incident, emphasizing the importance of justice for the affected families.

    “The deaths of at least four people, killed allegedly by law enforcement agencies during a security operation in a village near #Sarkand in Sindh, must be investigated independently. While the government should take all possible steps to improve law and order in the province, this in no way excuses extrajudicial killings, which HRCP has always opposed. We urge the caretaker chief minister to take notice of this incident. Those families currently protesting in Sarkand deserve justice. Additionally, the whereabouts of Liaquat Jalbani, a student initially in the custody of law enforcement personnel, who was brought to the village when this incident took place, must be established.”

    CM Baqar firmly stated that such incidents should not occur and formed a three-member committee to conduct a thorough inquiry into the matter, with a mandate to deliver its findings within four days.

    The Sindh Home Department has issued an order appointing Hyderabad Commissioner Khalid Hyder Shah to lead the inquiry committee, assisted by the Shaheed Benazirabad deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) and Karachi DIG Special Branch. The committee’s task is to ascertain the causes behind the clash that resulted in the loss of lives and injuries to law enforcement personnel.

    Protest by the families and relatives of the deceased villagers came to an end after the initiation of the judicial inquiry and the registration of a First Information Report (FIR).

    The FIR was filed under Sections 302 (intentional murder) and 324 (murder attempt) of the Pakistan Penal Code based on the complaint of Rahib Jalbani, the brother of one of the deceased individuals. According to the FIR, the security officials arrived at a house in the village and accused those present of being terrorists before opening fire. The complainant’s brother and another individual died on the spot, while several others were injured.

    SUP President Syed Zain Shah clarified that the deceased villagers were not politically affiliated, and their bodies will be laid to rest following a funeral in the village. He also mentioned that the villagers agreed to end their protest after authorities committed to conducting a judicial inquiry.

    SUP leaders highlighted that the villagers were ready to visit and inquire about the health of injured Rangers personnel, expressing concern that labeling the villagers as terrorists was a significant stigma. Law enforcement officers had claimed they had acted based on information about miscreants in the area.

  • Nawaz Sharif believes in divine justice: Ishaq Dar

    Nawaz Sharif believes in divine justice: Ishaq Dar

    Former finance minister Ishaq Dar has said in a major policy statement on the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) narrative that Nawaz Sharif has left his matters to Allah to punish his tormentors and those who threw him out of power using illegal, vindictive, and unethical means, as reported by Geo News.

    It is pertinent to remember that on September 22, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif conveyed that former army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Gen Faiz Hameed, Saqib Nisar, and Asif Saeed Khosa should be brought to justice.

    When asked about Sharif’s stance on individuals such as former army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) ex-director general Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, and the Panama judges, Dar reiterated Sharif’s commitment to leaving his fate in the hands of Allah. Dar mentioned how various individuals who were perceived as unjustly targeting Sharif have faced exposure and accountability, highlighting Judge Arshed Malik’s video confession and Justice Shaukat Siddiqui’s revelations.

    Dar said: “There are two choices: take revenge and personal scores settlement or fix the country and the economy. Nawaz Sharif has left his matter to Allah the Almighty. I have never seen in history that nature has exposed culprits in such a short time. Look how Judge Arshed Malik made his video confession of unfairly convicting Nawaz Sharif, how Justice Shaukat Siddiqui exposed injustice to Nawaz Sharif and informed the nation. This has happened in the fastest manner because Nawaz Sharif had left his matter with Allah and Allah is the best of judges.”

    Dar said that Sharif’s focus, upon his return to Pakistan, will be on nation-building, to help the country come out of the crisis, to bring economic progress and reforms, to bring prosperity to the nation and to reduce the difficulties of the masses, to put Pakistan on the path of progress.

    Dar said: “Allah has exposed them and Allah will hold them accountable too. Some are hiding, some are on the run and some are unable to show their faces. This is happening thanks to Allah’s justice and today the whole world knows that these were fraudulent and false cases against Nawaz Sharif; that he was victimised and the nation of Pakistan paid a price for this. The biggest victim in all this is Pakistan, the progress of Pakistan has been pushed back many decades as Pakistan has become the 4th economy of the world today and under Nawaz Sharif, it was the 24th economy of the world. This is the sum total of the destruction of Pakistan.”

    He further said: “The formation of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) is a step in the right direction. All stakeholders are part of it. The vehicle needed for it is already formed in the shape of the Pakistan sovereign wealth fund. Lots of sub-funds will be formed under it. These are revolutionary steps. If we win elections, I have no doubt that Pakistan will take off again.”

    Speaking to journalists after meeting Sharif and Maryam Nawaz at Thornhope House, both Shehbaz Sharif and Dar said that the narrative of PML-N will be defined by the fact that Pakistan progressed under Nawaz from 2013 till 2017 and then his govt was dislodged and the journey of Pakistan’s economic progress was halted.

    “The programme is final for October 21 and Mian Nawaz Sharif is returning to Pakistan,” Dar told the media.
    Dar will be returning to Pakistan on Saturday. He said he would appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the re-opened assets beyond means case.

    He said: “This is a false case, based on falsehood and lies. I have not missed my tax returns for a second in my life but lies as big as mountains were told about me to victimise me by the Saqib Nisar-led system in order to bring in Imran Khan projects which have failed badly. I will prove before the courts that I am an innocent man who has been victimised on political grounds.”

  • Who hasn’t paid house rent for the last 12 years?

    Who hasn’t paid house rent for the last 12 years?

    Janay kab hongay kum, PTI leadership ki zindagi kay gham

    The owner of ‘Insaf House’, PTI headquarters in Karachi, who rented the place to PTI leadership, has approached a court to seek unpaid rent worth more than Rs 10 million accumulated over the past 12 years, as per Geo News.

    Dues calculated till July 2023 are Rs 13.9 million. The rent agreement was signed between the landlord and PTI’s late leader Naeem ul Haque, President Arif Alvi, and former Sindh governor Imran Ismail. Meanwhile, Firdous Shamim Naqvi and Samar Ali Khan signed the agreement as ‘guarantors’.

    Under the rental agreement, PTI leaders including Alvi, Ismail and Haque had agreed to pay Rs100,000 in rent each month.
    Party leaders, including President Arif Alvi, might face legal consequences after the owner filed a case under section 15 of the Sindh Rental Ordinance Act 1969.

    As per the documents, PTI leadership not only faces legal consequences due to unpaid rent but also might face charges for violating the agreement’s clause that prohibited any political activities at the premises.

    If the case is decided in favor of the landlord, Alvi, Ismail, and the guarantors might even face disqualification.

    PTI had moved the court to de-seal the Insaf House after it was cordoned off following the May 9 riots. The court directed authorities to de-seal the party’s office and barred any gathering of more than five people at the premises.

  • You can’t get 100-page passports now

    You can’t get 100-page passports now

    The government has announced a temporary suspension on the issuance of passports with 100 pages. A statement issued by the Passport office expresses regret for the inconvenience and clarifies that this decision is part of the Directorate General (DG) of Immigration and Passports’ plan to introduce electronic passports (e-passports) nationwide.

    The transition initially began in Islamabad and has since been extended to all passport offices across the country following the federal government’s introduction of e-passports in June.

    As of August 16, 2023, new fee schedules have been implemented for e-passports, while fees for standard passports will remain unchanged.

    Here are the updated fee details for e-passports:

    1. For a standard 36-page passport valid for 5 years, the cost is set at Rs. 9,000.
    2. An urgent e-passport option is available for Rs. 15,000.
    3. A 72-page e-passport for regular processing will cost Rs. 16,500.
    4. Urgent service for the 72-page e-passport is priced at Rs. 27,000.
    5. If you opt for a 36-page passport with a 10-year validity, the normal fee is Rs. 13,500.
    6. The urgent service for this passport type costs Rs. 22,500.
    7. Additionally, a 72-page passport with a 10-year validity will incur a standard fee of Rs. 24,750, with an urgent processing fee of Rs. 40,500.

    The government’s decision to temporarily suspend the issuance of 100-page passports is in line with their efforts to streamline passport services and introduce more secure electronic passports to enhance the travel experience for Pakistani citizens.

  • PTI leaders arrested in Gawadar

    PTI leaders arrested in Gawadar

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) central leader Farrukh Habib, along with eight other people, have been arrested in Gwadar by security forces.

    Balochistan Caretaker Minister for Information Jan Achakzai confirmed the arrests to Dawn.

    Security personnel in plain clothes conducted a raid and arrested Farrukh Habib and eight other people from a local hotel in Gawadar after they got a tip-off. Habib was minister of state for information in the PTI government and president of PTI’s western Punjab wing.

    Those arrested in the raid include Habib’s brother and father-in-law, who were taken to an unknown place after their arrest.

    “The PTI leader reached Gwadar along with his brother, father-in-law and six other people to cross into Iran from Gwadar,” Mr Achakzai told Dawn.

    Habib, his brother and father-in-law have been shifted to an unknown place while six other people were handed over to Gawadar police, who have been released on bail after initial investigation.

    Those released on bail were: Jawad Ehsan Raza, Muhammad Mohsin, Abdul Jabbar, Muhammad Nadeem, Muham¬mad Saqib Nasim and Mudassir. They belong to Lahore, Karachi and Bahawalpur.

  • Senate approves bill for public hanging of rapists despite opposition

    Senate approves bill for public hanging of rapists despite opposition

    A Senate committee has passed an amended bill for the public hanging of rapists despite strong opposition from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), interior and foreign affairs ministries.

    The bill, proposed by Senator Mushtaq Ahmed of Jamaat-i-Islami, aims to amend sections 375, 375A, and 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Schedule II of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrCP).

    The Senate Standing Committee on Interior, chaired by Senator Mohsin Aziz, discussed the amendments to remove section D and introduce public hangings for rapists. The demand for public hangings gained momentum following the gang-rape incident on the Lahore-Sialkot motorway in September 2020

    Senator Sherry Rehman of PPP strongly opposed public hangings. She also took to X (former Twitter) to express her disapproval.

    “I strongly opposed public hangings being introduced in a bill in Senate Interior Committee by JI colleague Sen Mushtaq. There is no proven link between deterrence & public executions, let alone death penalty. Quite the contrary. Sorry to see others arguing for a further brutalisation of society. Ziaul Haq introduced public punishments, what did that do? Rape and human rights crimes went up and have been going up ever since. The PPP opposes such laws.”

    The committee also approved the “Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023”, which focuses on proper treatment and medical examination reports for rape victims through public and private hospitals. The bill was moved by Senator Mumtaz Zehri.

    They addressed the issue of private jails and passed the “Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023”, co-sponsored by Senators Mushtaq Ahmed and Samina Mumtaz Zehri to deter false imprisonment within residences.

    Other bills were discussed during the session, including one temporarily rejected due to its sub judice status, and another was rejected.

    The committee also passed the “Rain Water Harvesting Facility in Urban Areas, Bill 2023,” to efficiently utilize rainwater, supported by CDA representatives.

    Senator Irfan Siddiqui raised concerns about a missing bill for almost 15 months and decided to request a detailed report on the matter from relevant officials.The meeting was attended by various senators, including Saifullah Abro, Samina Mumtaz Zehri, and Sherry Rehman, as well as bill movers Senator Mushtaq Ahmed and Palwasha Khan, along with government representatives.

  • Nawaz Sharif will appear in court after his address at Minar-e-Pakistan

    Nawaz Sharif will appear in court after his address at Minar-e-Pakistan

    Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is set to return to Pakistan after a prolonged absence, will address a rally at Minar-e-Pakistan the day after his arrival, followed by a court appearance.

    Rana Sanaullah, the President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Punjab, stated that party head Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to arrive in Lahore on October 21. On the first day of his return, he will kick off the PML-N’s election campaign with a speech at Minar-e-Pakistan. Following this, he will appear in court on the next day.

    It is worth noting that the Interim Prime Minister had previously stated that legal opinions would be sought regarding Nawaz Sharif’s return, and his homecoming would be conducted in accordance with Pakistan’s laws. Various legal aspects surrounding his return will need to be considered.

    On the other hand, Khurram Dastgir Khan, a leader of the PML-N, remarked that Nawaz Sharif left the country by choice after the consent of two courts and will now return based on the same judicial consent.

    Previously, caretaker Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti had stated that if Nawaz Sharif did not receive bail from the court, he would be arrested. He opined that Nawaz Sharif might even prefer to surrender himself, as there is no need for a large-scale operation to apprehend one individual.

    Reacting to the Interior Minister’s statement, Rana Sanaullah, called the statement “crossing the line.”

    Rana Sanaullah stated, “Sarfaraz Bugti should see how the matter concluded when former Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid gave his statement. There is no political agenda on the part of the caretaker government. It is a positive development that Nawaz Sharif wants to rejoin Pakistan’s politics.”

    In response, Bugti clarified that his statement had been taken out of context and manipulated for political purposes. He emphasized that the government had no political agenda and welcomed Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistani politics.

    The anticipation surrounding Nawaz Sharif’s return has generated significant political interest, as observers closely monitor developments leading up to his homecoming and subsequent political activities.

  • ‘Daku’ bnaya ishq nay

    ‘Daku’ bnaya ishq nay

    Love can make a daku out of a normal guy.

    A private bank’s cash van carrying Rs 6 crore and 35 lacs was robbed on September 19 in Karachi’s Korangi area.

    The suspect, Zohaib, has not been arrested yet.

    According to investigative authorities, Zohaib was the employee of a private security company, and had been working in Karachi since the past 10 months. He left his job two months ago to get married to his love.

    Officials revealed that after reaching his wedding destination in Okara, Zohaib found out that the girl he was interested in had already gotten married elsewhere.

    In a statement provided by relatives to investigative authorities, it was mentioned that the suspect was distressed due to the failed love affair and became a robber.

    Investigative authorities further revealed that Zohaib returned to Karachi and rejoined the same security company. He robbed a bank’s cash van in September and is still on the run.

  • Gen Munir urges women to take part in KP’s ‘progress, development

    Gen Munir urges women to take part in KP’s ‘progress, development

    Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir on Wednesday urged women to take part in the “progress and development” of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and its newly-merged districts, the military’s media wing has said.

    The army chief passed the remarks during a visit to Peshawar where he held an “interactive session” at the KPK Women Symposium – 2023.

    While addressing the participants, Gen Munir highlighted that women had played “an important role in the progress of the country throughout the history of Pakistan”. He also emphasised the role of women in “Pakistan’s progress and development is quintessential and most important”.

    “Women of KP have continued to face multi-faceted challenges due to prolonged fight against terrorism, however, they have proven their resilience, commitment and bravery at the face of all odds,” Gen Munir was quoted by the ISPR.

    During the day-long visit, the army chief also attended a meeting of the Provincial Apex Committee along with Caretaker KP Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan.

    The meeting was briefed about the “overall security situation including initiatives against smuggling, hoarding and drug trafficking”.
    The moot affirmed that the state and the people were “united for the protection of life and property of citizens”. They also paid rich tribute to the martyrs and their families.

    “We have to synergise our efforts for the peace and prosperity of our beloved country. The Pakistan Army will continue to play its role in ensuring peace and stability in KP to provide a secure environment for economic development,” Gen Munir said.