Tag: trending

  • ‘They can be dealt with by an SHO,’ Mohsin Naqvi on Baloch militants

    ‘They can be dealt with by an SHO,’ Mohsin Naqvi on Baloch militants

    Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi has claimed that extensive operations are not required to fight against militants and that they can be dealt with by a Station House Officer (SHO).

    Later, however, when a journalist questioned his statement, he clarified that it was “symbolic.

    Responding to the inquiry of militants challenging the state, Naqvi said, “Militants assaulted secretly and conspiringly.”

    He asserted that there is no science required to counter these militants; “they are terrorists, and our civil armed forces, armed forces, and police know how to combat them”.

    “Balochistan incident is unbearable, and our hearts are aggrieved,” he added.

    Chief Minister Balochistan Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti remarked, “Terrorists find an inch of the road out of four thousand kilometre road and kill innocents.”

    “Militants attack the softest target after finding the weakest place,” he stated.

  • Iran issues final notice to Pakistan over pipeline delay

    Iran issues final notice to Pakistan over pipeline delay

    Iran has sent a final notice to Pakistan before approaching the Paris Arbitration Court (PAC) regarding the delay in the gas pipeline project even after the extended 180-day deadline, a government official told The News.

    In 2009, a Gas Sales Purchase Agreement (GSPA) was signed under French law. The project was delayed for ten years due to United States sanctions. However, the French arbitration court does not accept the US embargos.

    The agreement read, “The Inter-State Gas Systems (ISGS) of Pakistan and the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) inked the revised contract in September 2019, and under that contract, Iran would not approach any international court if there was a delay in the construction of the pipeline. However, Pakistan would erect its pipeline by 2024, after which it would have an intake of 750 million cubic feet of gas from Iran daily.”

    Under the French GSPA, if Iran does not exercise its right to move the arbitration court till September 2024, it will lose its battle for legal rights against Pakistan.

  • Heavy rains expected in Karachi, police on high alert

    Heavy rains expected in Karachi, police on high alert

    The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted heavy rainfall in Karachi, and city police have been alerted.

    Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz said, “The system is intense, moving westward and southwestward. As of now, there is no indication that it’s going to lose its severity and is expected to bring about a very heavy to hefty fall in lower Sindh,”

    He said, “Karachi is also expected to receive heavy rains, though not of the same intensity,”

    Sarfraz said that the torrential rain in areas of Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Tando Allah Yar, Tando Muhammad Khan, and Tharparker could increase from 400mm to 500mm.

    He added that Metropolice might record 150mm to 200mm of rain.

    Additional Inspector General of Police (AIG) Karachi Javed Alam Odho instructed police to provide alternate traffic routes in areas with more water accumulation.

  • PM Shehbaz Sharif calls for unity against enemies

    PM Shehbaz Sharif calls for unity against enemies

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for national unity and a firm stance against terrorism, emphasising the need to recognise and confront the nation’s enemies.

    During a federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad, he stressed that there is no room for weakness in addressing terrorism.

    Sharif expressed the government’s willingness to engage with individuals in Balochistan who respect Pakistan’s constitution and flag, but warned that those who act as enemies while pretending to be allies will face no leniency.

    He described recent terrorist attacks as deeply troubling and underscored the government’s resolve to overcome these challenges.

    The Prime Minister highlighted that terrorist groups aim to disrupt the country’s progress and sabotage the development of Balochistan. He called for decisive action to eliminate these threats and ensure the security and stability of the nation.

  • Law Minister rejects reports of extension for CJP Qazi Faez Isa

    Law Minister rejects reports of extension for CJP Qazi Faez Isa

    Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar has said that the next Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) will be appointed on seniority basis, rejecting rumors that Qazi Faez Isa might get an extension in his tenure.

    Speaking on the Geo News programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath, he said, “Seniority will be of paramount importance in appointing a new chief justice. The senior-most judge will be the chief justice.”

    He also said that ordinary legislation cannot bypass the appointment of the CJP, as enshrined in Article 175-A(3) of the constitution.

    Tarar further stated that the top judge will retire on October 25, 2024, and has “no interest” in getting an extension. Senior Justice Mansoor Ali Shah will replace Qazi Faez Isa as CJP.

  • Special Court of Lahore blocks Moonis Elahi’s CNIC, passport

    Special Court of Lahore blocks Moonis Elahi’s CNIC, passport

    A special central court of Lahore has ordered the blocking of former Chief Minister (CM) Punjab’s Chaudhary Parvez Elahi son Moonis Elahi’s Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) and passport, along with those of six other suspects, in an alleged money laundering case.

    The court, presided over by judge Tanveer Ahmed Shaikh, also directed that the names of other proclaimed offenders (POs), including Farasat Ali Chatha, Imtiaz Ali Shah, Amir Sohail, and Aamir Fayyaz, be included in the ECL.

    The court also ordered freezing Moonis’ bank account and assets, including 26 kanal acres in Kasur, a plot, and a house in Gulberg, Lahore.

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) alleged that Parvez Elahi’s son and daughter-in-law committed money laundering through a peon, Qaiser Iqbal Bhatti, an employee of the Punjab Assembly.

    FIA stated that the suspects were arrested after an unexplained transaction of millions of rupees in Bhatti and Mooni’s accounts.

  • Why were Geo News, Dawn News shut down in 2018? Shocking details revealed

    Why were Geo News, Dawn News shut down in 2018? Shocking details revealed

    Veteran journalist Azaz Syed has revealed why Geo News and Dawn News were shut down in 2018, a tale full of revelations about what happened at the time.

    Speaking on Absar Alam’s talk show, Mere Sawal, Syed said that he, along with other journalists, was briefed on the situation regarding the Geo News shutdown.

    He said, “Former spymaster Faiz Hameed and former Director General Inter Service Public Relation DG (ISPR) Asif Ghafoor made four demands from the Geo News administration, one of which was to call former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif a thief.”

    “The second demand was to highlight founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan’s campaign, and the third demand was not to criticise any remarks made by the judiciary,” he added.

    Syed stated, “The fourth demand was to either expel some journalists from Geo News or bar them from saying anything critical.”

    Former Chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Absar Alam said Geo News and Dawn News were shut down to “capture the policy.”

    Responding to halt the distribution of The News and Jang Newspaper, Alam claimed, “These newspaper distributions were barred in the Cantonment and Defence Housing Society (DHA).”

  • Punjab Police rescue constable Ahmed Nawaz after deadly katcha ambush

    Punjab Police rescue constable Ahmed Nawaz after deadly katcha ambush

    The Punjab police have successfully rescued Constable Ahmed Nawaz from Katcha dacoits in Machka, when he was abducted by bandits after police got ambushed, a police spokesperson has said.

    District Police Officer (DPO) Rahim Yar Khan, Rizwan Omar Gondal, said, “The police department is working with full strength in the riverine areas,”
    Punjab Police Inspector General (IG) Dr Usman Anwar stated that the police prioritised Nawaz’s recovery.

    Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz appreciated the police effort to ensure Nawaz’s safe return.

    Last Thursday, Rahim Yar Khan’s riverine area was witness to a brutal ambush after Katcha dacoits attacked police with rocket launchers, resulting in 12 officers getting killed while six were injured, and two vehicles were also destroyed.

  • PTI postponed rally out of ‘fear of rejection’, says Khawaja Asif

    PTI postponed rally out of ‘fear of rejection’, says Khawaja Asif

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has stated that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) postponed its August 22 rally in Islamabad due to “fear of rejection” by the people.

    Khawaja Asif claimed that former Prime Minister Imran Khan would not have cancelled the rally if it was going to be successful. And to protect the image of its popularity, PTI is building a “false narrative.” 

    Khawaja Asif pointed out apparent differences between the PTI leadership regarding the August 22 rally and said that they have no “real intention” of getting Imran Khan freed from jail.

    Responding to Imran’s meeting with Azam Swati, Khawaja said, “Meetings or conversations in jail cannot remain a secret; your every movement is recorded.”

    He called Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhawa Ali Amin Gandapur “Buzdar 2” and remarked, “A blame game is underway in the PTI-led province as his [Gandapur] cabinet members are calling him [a] thief.”

  • Expired juice allegedly caused food poisoning, kills four family members

    Expired juice allegedly caused food poisoning, kills four family members

    Four members of the same family were found dead in a car parked on the motorway near Bhera staypoint in Sargodha on Friday. A fifth person in the car, the driver, was taken to the hospital unconscious.

    After noting that the car was parked on the highway for a long time, highway police called Rescue 1122, broke the glass windows of the car and pulled out the bodies, rescue officials confirmed.

    Rescue authorities informed Geo News that the bodies of a man, two women and a child have been recovered from the car. The driver was shifted to the hospital in a state of unconsciousness.

    However, Express Tribune reported that the National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) North Zone found the car’s five occupants in a semi-conscious state and shifted them to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital (THQ) in Bhera for urgent medical treatment.

    Despite the hospital staff’s efforts, all succumbed to the suspected poisoning. They have been identified as Romila 60, Mahwish 30, Samar 28, and four-year-old Aun.

    The family lived on McLeod Road in Lahore.

    Initial investigation suggests that food poisoning may have caused the deaths. Two boxes of juice have been found in the vehicle, one of which was expired, says the police. The actual cause of death will only be known only after the autopsy, the police asserted.