Page 54 - Pakistan

Bangladesh crisis: Pak expresses solidarity, hopes for return to normalcy

In a statement, Pakistan's Foreign Office said, 'We are confident that the resilient spirit and unity of the Bangladeshi people will lead them towards a harmonious future'

Who is Asif Merchant: Pak national charged with US assassination plots

Asif Merchant has been charged with murder-for-hire in connection with a foiled assassination plot targeting US politicians or government officials

Would be foolish not to have any good army ties, says former Pak PM Khan

Khan said his criticism since his ouster had been directed at individuals, not the military as an institution

Five policemen among six J-K officials sacked for 'narco-terror links'

J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha invoked Article 311 (2) (c) of the Constitution to terminate them

Baloch activist Maharang alleges brutalities on peaceful protesters

Mahrang Baloch also added that the members of the Baloch community who were injured during attacks on Baloch Raji Machi's caravans will not be treated at state expenses

Pakistan's 'Beep' messaging app launch raises citizen concerns: Here's why

Previously referred to as a "WhatsApp killer," the Beep Pakistan app is being touted by the critics as part of a broader government strategy to control online discourse and limit access to informatio

J&K govt grants land proprietary rights to West Pakistan refugees

The decision will benefit thousands of West Pakistan Refugees (WPRs) who were granted domicile status after the Centre's decision to abrogate Article 370 in August 2019

Pak Army sentences former officer to 14 yrs imprisonment in sedition case

The Pakistan Army on Tuesday announced that it sentenced a former officer to 14 years of imprisonment on the charges of sedition. Retired Lieutenant Colonel Akbar Hussain was convicted and sentenced through Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under the Pakistan Army Act 1952 on charges of inciting sedition among army personnel from discharge of duties, according to a statement by the army. The court of competent jurisdiction adjudged him guilty' of the offence charged, through due judicial process and awarded the punishment of 14 years rigorous imprisonment on May 10, it stated. According to the sentence, the Rank of the officer was forfeited on July 26, it further said.

Pakistan makes $27-billion request from China, Saudi and UAE. Here's why

Pakistan's finance minister recently acknowledged difficulties faced by all segments of society because of high interest rates, energy prices, increased tax burden, and currency devaluation

Pakistan to give visa on arrival to Sikhs, exempt visa fee from 126 nations

Pakistan has been grappling with a prolonged economic crisis, seeking financial assistance from friendly nations and global lenders

Pak journalist raises Kanwar Yatra issue

A Pakistani journalist raised the issue of the Kanwar Yatra nameplate controversy before the US state department, on July 25. What did the US state department spokesperson, Matthew Miller say?

Imran Khan refuses to undergo polygraph test as part of investigation

Jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday refused to undergo polygraph and voice matching test as a part of investigation launched by Lahore police in connection with last year's unprecedented violence in the country. A 12-member forensic team reached Adiala Jail on Tuesday to conduct the polygraph test on 71-year-old Khan. The May 9 riots in 2023 were triggered across the country after 71-year-old Khan was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in a 190-million-pound corruption case. He faces over 200 cases and has been in jail since August last year. The Lahore police team, led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police arrived at the prison premises to conduct the tests, the Express Tribune reported. They were accompanied by experts from the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA), the report said. The PFSA experts were to perform polygraph, voice matching, and photogrammetry tests on the former prime minister. However, the PTI founder answered the questions of

Bushra Bibi fears for Imran Khan's life; alleges inhumane conditions

Bushra Bibi, the wife of incarcerated former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan, on Saturday expressed grave concerns about her husband's safety in Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail, alleging that he was kept in inhumane conditions and given contaminated food. Speaking informally to journalists at the prison, Bushra revealed fears for her own life as well, The Express Tribune newspaper reported. According to Bushra, Khan's life is in danger keeping in view the past incidents where he was allegedly poisoned and shot at. She added that their legal request to investigate the poisoning has not been addressed by the court yet. Describing conditions in the jail, Bushra, 49, alleged that 71-year-old Khan was kept in unsanitary conditions and given contaminated food to eat. She said that during their meeting in Attock Jail, Khan appeared emaciated and had to pick insects from his hair throughout the night. Bushra also criticised the treatment of political prisoners compared to convicted criminals

PCB unlikely to allow Babar, Rizwan, Afridi to play in Canadian GT20 league

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is unlikely to allow senior players Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi to play in the upcoming Global T20 Canadian League, citing a busy international calendar. The PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi held discussions with coaches Jason Gilliespie and Gary Kirsten, who were also not in favour of allowing these players to participate in the GT20, informed a reliable source in the board. That these three cricketers play in all formats of the sport too influenced the board's decision, said the source. The board has allowed NOCs to some of those players who are not all format players like Shadab Khan to play in some leagues. But since Babar, Shaheen and Rizwan play in all formats the case is different for them, the source said. The source attributed PCB's call to deny an NOC for pacer Naseem Shah to play in the Hundred in England too to the same reason. However, he conceded that the board is expecting resentment from the players and their agents as

7 people including 2 security personnel killed in terror attack in Pakistan

At least seven people, including two security personnel and two minors, were killed in a terrorist attack on a rural health centre in Pakistan's unruly northwest on Tuesday, the army said. The terrorists attacked the Rural Health Centre (RHC), Kirri Shamozai in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Pakistan Army's media wing said. The civilians who lost their lives in the gun attack were the staff of RHC, including two women health workers and a watchman of the facility, besides the two minors. The security forces in the vicinity were immediately mobilised for clearance operation in RHC and in the ensuing fire exchange, two troops effectively engaged the terrorists and killed them. This is the second terrorist attack in 24 hours as eight soldiers were killed while trying to foil a terrorist infiltration into Bannu Cantonment in the wee hours of Monday. At least eight soldiers of the Pakistan Army and 10 terrorists were killed when a group of 10 terrorists attacked a

8 Pak Army soldiers, 10 terrorists killed in attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

At least eight soldiers of the Pakistan Army and 10 terrorists were killed when a group of 10 terrorists attacked a major military cantonment in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the army said on Tuesday. All 10 terrorists who launched the daring attack were also eliminated after they attempted to enter the Bannu Cantonment on Monday, with security forces effectively thwarting the move, the statement said. The terrorists' failed attempt forced them to ram an explosive-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall of the cantonment, leading to the collapse of a portion of the wall and damaging the adjoining infrastructure. Eight soldiers were killed in the ensuing operation and all the terrorists were "sent to hell", the statement added. "This timely and effective response by the security forces prevented major catastrophe, saving precious innocent lives," the statement said, adding that the heinous act was undertaken by the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, which operates from Afghanistan an

Court grants police custody of Imran Khan for 10 days in May 9 riot cases

The unrest erupted nationwide last year after Imran Khan was detained by paramilitary Rangers from the Islamabad High Court during a corruption case proceeding.

More trouble for ex-Pakistan PM Imran Khan as govt mulls banning his party

A Minister said that the federal government has resolved to present a case to the Supreme Court to ban Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party for alleged anti-state activities

Pakistan clinches $7 bn IMF bailout agreement, to raise tax on farm income

The benchmark share index has almost doubled since Pakistan signed its last SLA for the $3 billion standby arrangement, and is up more than 10% since Pakistan presented its annual budget

'We need to introspect, holding Pak responsible for terror not enough'

Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday said holding only Pakistan responsible for the recent spike in terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir is not sufficient as he called for self-introspection to end illegal activities, which benefit terrorism in the Union Territory. He said the government is implementing a new strategy, which includes deployment of army in the higher reaches to ensure that peace is restored within one week in Kathua, where five army personnel were killed and an equal number injured in an ambush by the terrorists on July 8. The recent terror incidents (in Jammu region) carried out by infiltrators from Pakistan is condemnable. But repeatedly saying that Pakistan has done this is not sufficient. We have to ask ourselves and inner-souls what we have done to end social evils which are benefitting terrorism, the minister of state in the prime minister's office told reporters in Kathua. The minister was in Kathua, part of his Udhampur parliamentary constituency, for