Tag: topnews

  • Govt to regulate falcon trade

    Govt to regulate falcon trade

    The federal government has directed relevant authorities to streamline the import and export of falcons, ensuring that birds that are brought into Pakistan are taken back by their owners and not exchanged.

    In a meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Management Authority on September 4, a Ministry of Climate Change representative stressed the need to tag falcons with microchips and identification passports, Dawn News reported.

    Officials were hopeful that these actions will prevent the exchange or illegal trade of the birds and added, “This is a transit permission, not related to the commercial trade of species.”

    The development came after previous incidents where Gulf princes took young falcons along with them and abandoned injured and aged birds, which were later illegally trapped in Pakistan and sold on the country’s black market; this raised concerns about wildlife exploitation, prompting strict rules to protect the birds.

  • ‘X is banned amid security concerns,’ reveals Attaullah Tarar

    ‘X is banned amid security concerns,’ reveals Attaullah Tarar

    Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaulah Tarar reiterated on Friday that the ban on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has been imposed amid security concerns in Pakistan.

    Speaking to Voice of America in New York, he cleared that this particular step taken by the previous interim government should not be perceived as an attempt to curb freedom of expression.

    The Information Minister pointed out that X was being used by separatist and terrorist groups, which were propogating against the country.

    “Terrorists broadcast their terrorist activities on social media,” he said.

    Tarrar stressed on the need to establish a mechanism to regulate social media to avoid its misuse.

    “As Pakistanis, we can request the management of X to remove anti-state content uploaded by terrorists,” he added.

  • ‘Go Donut go’; Lawyer protest outside Supreme Court has internet laughing

    ‘Go Donut go’; Lawyer protest outside Supreme Court has internet laughing

    A small number of lawyers protested outside the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan yesterday, chanting, “Go donut go,” referring to the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa.

    The slogan “Go donut go” was raised after a month-old video appeared on social media showing CJP Qazi Faez Isa, along with his family, attempting to purchase donuts at Crusteez Donuts in Islamabad Blue Area, where an employee was rude to him while recording the incident.

    Advocate Salman Akram Raja, while addressing the protest, said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) came out to protest for the rule of law and constitution.

    However, the small numbers and slogans got social media laughing. Here are some funny tweets:

  • Gandapur clarifies ‘barat and dhol’ comment at Islamabad rally ‘meant nothing’

    Gandapur clarifies ‘barat and dhol’ comment at Islamabad rally ‘meant nothing’

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has stated that his controversial Islamabad rally speech on September 8 was taken “out of context” and misinterpreted.

    Speaking to a delegation of Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said that the “color being given to my speech on social media is not correct in Islam and Shariat, I will tell my supporters to avoid immorality in social media posts.”

    On September 8, Gandapur gave a controversial speech targeting journalists and CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz, saying, “We will go to Lahore with Barat and music.”

    He further said, “Media is the fourth pillar of the state with significant responsibilities. I will always take media’s criticism in a positive way and reform.”

    The CM KP also said that the armed forces and police are making daily sacrifices in the war against terrorism.

  • Protestors reject military operations in Swat

    Protestors reject military operations in Swat

    A large gathering appeared at Friday’s rally organised by the Swat Qaumi Jirga at Nishat Chowk, Mingora, against terrorism and military operations in the region.

    The protestors maintained that acts of terrorism in the region were “state-sponsored and artificial” and warned that Swat’s residents would take matters into their hand if the state didn’t wipe out terrorism, Dawn News reported.

    A protestor holding a white flag in his hand stated, “We are fed up with these fabricated terrorism projects. We demand peace and development initiatives on Pashtun soil. Those who devise these plans must know that such tactics can no longer fool the Pakhtun nation.”

    Citing the September 21 attack on diplomats at Malam Jabba region, a speaker said, “Swat residents are known for their hospitality. Those foreign dignitaries were our guests, but unfortunately, some elements, who are opposed to Swat’s progress, orchestrated the bomb blast on their convoy,”

    On Friday, veteran journalist Azaz Syed, on the Youtube channel ‘Talk SHOCK’, revealed that the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce hadn’t informed the Foreign Ministry of the diplomat’s visit to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

  • Shehbaz Sharif slams Israel, warns India of decisive response over Kashmir in hard hitting speech

    Shehbaz Sharif slams Israel, warns India of decisive response over Kashmir in hard hitting speech

    During a hard hitting address on Friday, Prime Minister (PM) of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif slammed Israel at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, highlighting the brutal assault on Gaza, the Ukraine conflict and India’s violent actions in occupied Kashmir.

    Declaring Israel’s actions in Gaza a “merciless genocide”, he said, “This is a systematic slaughter of the innocent people of Gaza.”

    Warning the world of Israel’s crimes against humanity, he said, “Failure to implement UN resolutions could engulf the entire Middle East, and its consequences would be beyond imagination.”

    He stressed the need for Palestine to be admitted as a full member of the United Nations.

    Commenting on India’s absurd assertion of invading Azad Kashmir, he clearly stated, “Pakistan will respond decisively to any Indian aggression.”

    He also raised concerns about New Delhi’s ruthless occupation that crushes Kashmiri’s lives under an iron fist.

    Citing New Delhi’s heinous efforts to turn Kashmir into a playground for exploitation, he said that India always avoids the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions over Kashmir.

    He added, “Since August 5, 2019, India has taken unilateral, illegal actions to impose what its leaders ominously call a ‘Final Solution’ for Jammu and Kashmir.”

    He urged the implementation of a UN Security Council resolution in Kashmir.

    Citing India’s blatant act of aggression, he said, “The UN has failed to counter India’s prolonged curfew, abduction of numerous young Kashmiris and extra-judicial killing.”

    The Premier also highlighted the dangers of climate change that Pakistan is currently facing. “Pakistan was devastated by the flood in 2022, which cost 30 billion dollars in damages despite the country contributing less than one per cent to global carbon emissions.”

    On SDGs in nearly 100 underdeveloped countries, he concluded his speech by calling it a “death trap” rather than a “debt trap.”

  • Khan lashes out at Qazi Faez Isa, questions his mental stability

    Khan lashes out at Qazi Faez Isa, questions his mental stability

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, has lashed out at the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, questioning his mental stability during a conversation with journalists on Friday.

    “No Chief Justice in the world has acted the way Pakistan’s Chief Justice is behaving. He does not seem mentally sound to me,” exclaimed Khan, accusing the CJP of biased behaviour.

    He also criticised the January 2024 Supreme Court ruling stripping the PTI of its electoral symbol ‘bat’ calling it biased because the “the SC verdict in the reserved seats case has vindicated our stance.”

    The former Prime Minister further alleged that the CJP was involved in “election fraud” and was trying to punish PTI for extending his tenure.

    “The so-called third umpire also seeks an extension, and for that, they need PDM’s support. They are destroying democracy and the rule of law to maintain power while the nation begs for a single dollar,” stated Khan.

  • PTI lawmaker joins government ahead of constitutional amendments

    PTI lawmaker joins government ahead of constitutional amendments

    A big shock for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as PTI Member National Assembly (MNA) Adil Khan Bazai has joined the incumbent government ahead of proposed constitutional amendments, ARY News reported.

    PTI-backed independent candidate Adil Bazai secured his National Assembly seat from Quetta constituency NA-262 in the general election of 2024.

    After Bazai joined the incumbent government, the coalition government number rose to 215 seats in the National Assembly.

    Earlier, the coalition government attempted to pass the constitutional amendments from parliament but was unsuccessful due to the insufficient number of lawmakers required to pass the amendments.

    Chief Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman had been the decision maker by having only five votes of the Upper House in his pocket.

    Veteran journalist Azaz Syed, on the YouTube channel ‘Talk SHOCK’, claimed that the coalition government intends to introduce the twenty-sixth constitutional amendment drafts to parliament in the first week of October.

  • Reserved seats uncertainty: ECP again approaches Supreme Court

    Reserved seats uncertainty: ECP again approaches Supreme Court

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has challenged the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan’s September 14 detailed verdict regarding the allotment of women and non-muslim reserved seats to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    The ECP explained in its plea that the apex court’s July 12 ruling came before the Election Amendment Act 2024; on this amendment, the ECP sought clarification from the apex court on whether to follow the amended parliamentary law or the top court’s September 14 detailed verdict.

    The 8-5 majority ruling of the Supreme Court’s verdict on reserved seats read, “Withdrawal of election symbol cannot disqualify a political party from elections.”

    It further read, “The PTI was and is a political party.”

    On September 14, the top court issued the detailed verdict of its July 12 ruling, directing the ECP to allot reserved seats to PTI.

    Meanwhile, the Election Amendment Act 2024 stated, “A candidate who does not submit the party certificate before obtaining the election symbol will be considered an independent candidate. If the list of candidates for reserved seats is not submitted within the specified period, no political party will be entitled to those seats.”

  • 46 dead in Kurram clashes so far

    46 dead in Kurram clashes so far

    Clashes between rival tribes in Kurram district have been ongoing for eight days now, with 46 people dead and 96 injured so far.

    On Friday, fresh clashes left five more people dead and 15 injured, Dawn News reported.

    Earlier, clashes started between the Bushehra tribe and the Ahmedzai tribe in the Kurram district following the construction of trenches on disputed land.

    Viewing the ongoing clashes at Kurram district, former Senator and tribal leader Sajid Turi had claimed that a grand jirga tried to resolve the dispute but ended in vain.

    Meanwhile, on Thursday, in a statement issued from the CM’s secretariat, Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur said that serious efforts were being made to maintain public order in the province.

    He added, “After the improvement of the law and order situation in southern districts, more checkposts will be handed over to the police. However, before that happens, there is a need to enhance the capabilities of police.”