Page 165 - Pakistan

Celebrated Pakistani singer Nayyara Noor dies at 71 of brief illness

Celebrated Pakistani singer Nayyara Noor, adored by millions from both sides of the border for her soulful melodies, passed away after a brief illness, her family said on Sunday, bringing the curtains down on the life of one of the last musical icons to represent the shared culture of India and Pakistan. Noor was 71, and had been under treatment for quite some time in Karachi, media reports said. "It is with heavy heart that I announce the passing of my beloved aunt (tayi) Nayyara Noor. May her soul R.I.P.," her nephew Raza Zaidi tweeted. She leaves behind an enviable legacy and a treasure trove of mellifluous renditions. Noor was born in Guwahati in 1950. Her father was an active member of the All-India Muslim League and hosted Pakistan's founding father Muhammad Ali Jinnah during his trip to Pakistan before the Partition in 1947. Sometime in 1958, her family migrated to Lahore in Pakistan's Punjab province. Education was the be-all and end-all of our existence but music was th

Pakistan media watchdog imposes ban on ex-PM Imran Khan's live speeches

Pakistan's media watchdog has banned broadcasting live speeches of former prime minister Imran Khan on all satellite television channels with immediate effect, hours after he threatened state institutions and government officials while addressing a rally in Islamabad. Khan, while addressing a public gathering here on Saturday, threatened to file cases against top police officials, a woman magistrate, Election Commission of Pakistan and political opponents over the treatment meted out to his aide Shahbaz Gill, who was arrested last week on charges of sedition. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) in a communique issued on Saturday said that television channels despite repeated warnings had failed to implement a time-delay mechanism to stop the broadcast of material against state institutions. "It has been observed that Mr Imran Khan, Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, in his speeches/statements is continuously alleging state institutions by levelling baseless ..

36 killed, 145 others injured in rain spells across Pakistan in 24 hrs

At least 36 people were killed and 145 others injured in heavy monsoon rain-triggered flash floods and other rain-related incidents during the last 24 hours in Pakistan, the NDMA said

Messages warning 26/11-like attack came from Pakistan number: Mumbai police

The messages received by the police threatening a 26/11-like attack in Mumbai came from a phone number which has Pakistan code, city Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar said on Saturday. He was addressing a press conference here in the wake of city police's traffic wing receiving several text messages on its helpline number, which threatened that an attack would be carried out and the city would be blown up. "Prima facie, the threat messages to blow up Mumbai like 26/11 came from a number that has Pakistan code," Phansalkar said. "We have taken the messages seriously. Necessary measures are being taken to investigate the threat messages. We are alert on coastal security and are coordinating with Coast Guard," he added.

Pakistan: Former PM Imran Khan faces arrest in foreign funding case

Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency has decided to arrest former PM Imran Khan if he fails to appear before the investigation committee or respond to the notices

Pakistan poll body issues notice to Imran over 'contemptuous remarks'

Pakistan's top election body has issued a notice to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan for using "intemperate and contemptuous remarks" against the poll watchdog in recent political speeches

Top US general visits General HQs in Rawalpindi after 1.5 year hiatus

A top US general visited the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and met Pakistani army chief on Thursday after a hiatus of 1.5 years.Centcom chief Michael E Kurilla met with COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa; both discuss counter-terror programmes, reported The Express Tribune.This was the first visit of Commander of the US Central Command (Centcom) General Michael E Kurilla since he was given the new role in April.This was also the first visit by any top US general to Pakistan since the then Centcom chief General Kenneth McKenzie visited Islamabad in February 2021, reported The Express Tribune.Though there has been interaction between the two militaries but no American general visited Pakistan in the last 18 months, suggesting a hiccup in the bilateral relationship because of a chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan.The new Centcom chief spoke with army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on July 30, just 48 hours before the CIA drone strike killed al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri in ...

India's unbridled acquisition of arms threatening region's peace, stability

Pakistan on Friday said that India's unbridled acquisition of arms was creating an imbalance in the region, threatening peace and stability. Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmed said this at the weekly briefing in response to a question about Indian Air Force deploying its first batch of S-400 Russian Missile Defence System in Adampur and Halwara Air Base in Punjab, some 90-100 Km close to Pakistani border. It has been a long standing concern of Pakistan that the arms race, the imbalance that has been created and further exacerbated in our region because of India's belligerence and unbridled acquisition of arms over the years, threatens regional peace and stability, the FO spokesperson said. He said Pakistan had shared those concerns with friends, members of the international community, and had also raised these issues at the relevant forums in the United Nations. "Almost over 70 per cent of the military capability that India has acquired is actually directed, deployed .

Pakistan suffers a massive internet outage amid fault in optic fibre

Pakistan on Friday suffered a massive internet outage when a technical fault in the optic fiber network caused by heavy rains cut off various areas, including the national capital Islamabad, from internet services. However, the services were later restored, officials from the Pakistan Telecommunications Company Ltd (PTCL) said. PTCL officials said that some problems in its optic fiber network caused the disruption, which have been addressed. Technical fault in the PTCL optic fiber network caused by heavy rains and flooding has been repaired and internet services have been restored, PTCL tweeted, adding that all internet services in the country have become normal. The Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) said some fault was reported in data networks between South and North which caused internet connectivity issues. This issue is being investigated. The PTA is monitoring the situation and further updates will be shared, the authority said. Islamabad and Lahore were among the worst hit

Heavy rains in Pakistan's central, northern parts; internet disrupted

Heavy rains and floods on Friday caused internet outages in Pakistan's central and northern parts of the country.

Pakistan recover to thrash Netherlands in ODI; take 2-0 lead in series

Salman who came at the dismissal of Babar Azam, was belligerent in his unbeaten knock of 50, smashing the winning runs off 35 deliveries, embellished with five boundaries and two sixes

Weapons dropping by Pak drones, NIA searches multiple locations in J-K

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has carried out searches in five districts of Jammu and Kashmir in connection with its investigation into dropping of weapons by Pakistani drones along the International Border, an official said. The searches were carried out at eight locations on Thursday in Jammu, Srinagar, Kathua, Samba, and Doda districts in the case related to interception of a drone used for delivery of consignments of arms, ammunition and explosives by a key module of The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The TRF operatives were working at the behest of Pakistani handlers, a spokesperson of the federal agency said. "The searches conducted today have led to recovery of various incriminating material, digital devices and documents," the NIA said. The spokesperson said the TRF operatives were in constant touch with Pakistani handlers of LeT and were receiving weapon consignments and other terrorist hardware via drones in the Indian territory ne

India, Pakistan left in a lurch as gas deliveries get redirected to Europe

With gas prices more than 150% higher since the Russian invasion in February, and wealthier nations able to pay more to ensure adequate supplies, emerging nations can't compete

Centre blocks 8 YouTube channels for spreading disinformation against India

The government on Thursday ordered blocking of eight YouTube channels, including one operating from Pakistan, for allegedly spreading disinformation related to India's national security, foreign relations and public order. The blocked YouTube channels had over 114 crore views; and 85.73 lakh subscribers and the content was being monetised, an official statement said. The channels that were blocked under the Information Technology Rules-2021 include seven Indian news channels. The blocked YouTube channels made false claims such as demolition of religious structures by the Government of India, ban on celebration of religious festivals, declaration of religious war in India, an official statement said. "Such content was found to have the potential to create communal disharmony and disturb public order in the country," it said. It said the YouTube channels were also used to post fake news on various subjects such as the Indian Armed Forces and Jammu and Kashmir. "The content was obse

Rushdie attack: Cost of prizing religious identity over defence of liberty

In a piece of dreadful irony, last week's brutal knife attack on Salman Rushdie came just days before the 75th anniversary of the partition of India and Pakistan

China wants military posts in Pakistan to safeguard BRI investments

As part of its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, China has made significant investments in the conflict-prone Pakistan-Afghanistan region

Men's FTP '23-'27: India to play 38 Tests, 42 ODIs; no series vs Pakistan

India expectedly has a choc-a-bloc calender but as usual there won't be any bilateral cricket series with Pakistan due to obvious political reasons.

Pak PM Sharif likely to meet Chinese Pres Xi during SCO summit: Report

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif is likely to have a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping next month on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Uzbekistan.

Pak Army chief likely to visit US to request for early IMF funding: Report

Days after Pakistan's Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa requested Washington for help in securing an early disbursement of funds from the IMF, he is likely to visit US

Shehbaz Sharif says Pakistan can mediate to bring together US, China

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has offered Pakistan's services as a mediator to bring together the US and China as it did decades ago, media report said