Page 78 - Pakistan

Pakistan's ex-PM Imran Khan, his aide Qureshi indicted in cipher case

A special court in Pakistan on Wednesday indicted former prime minister Imran Khan and his close aide former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case for allegedly leaking state secrets and violating the laws of the country. Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqernain conducted the proceedings of the case in the Adiala Jail Rawalpindi where the two leaders have been incarcerated in the case. The judge read out the charges against the two leaders, who were present inside the courtroom, but both of them pleaded not guilty. This was the second time that they were indicted. Earlier, they were indicted on October 23 but the process was nullified by the Islamabad High Court. Judge Zulqernain while hearing the case on December 4 had declared that fresh indictment was mandatory in the light of the Islamabad High Court judgment which declared all proceedings illegal after ruling against the jail trial on procedural grounds. It resulted in the fresh process to initiate an in-prison trial

Pakistan extends Haj application submission deadline till December 22

The move comes when the country's foreign reserves are depleting and to attract more foreign exchange

Kashmir issue should be resolved through dialogue between India, Pak: China

The Kashmir issue should be resolved through dialogue and consultation between India and Pakistan, China on Tuesday while reacting to India's Supreme Court judgment on Article 370 upholding the central government's decision on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. On the Kashmir issue, China's position is consistent and clear, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, replying to a question by a Pakistani journalist seeking China's reaction on the issue. India's Supreme Court on Monday unanimously upheld the central government's decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370 bestowing special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. The apex court also directed restoration of statehood at the earliest as well as holding elections to the assembly by September 30 next year. This is a dispute left from the past between India and Pakistan and it should be properly addressed through peaceful means, according to the UN charter, United Nations Security Council ...

Pakistan court acquits former PM Nawaz Sharif in Al-Azizia corruption case

The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday acquitted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia Steel mill corruption case as he eyes a record fourth term as premier in the next elections. Sharif, 73, was sentenced to seven years in jail and imposed a heavy fine by an anti-corruption court in December 2018 after he failed to convince the court that he had nothing to do with the steel mill set up by his father in 2001 in Saudi Arabia. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday acquitted Sharif in the Al-Azizia reference. He was already acquitted in the Avenfield case in which he was convicted in July 2018 and sentenced to ten years in Jail. He also got relief in the Flagship corruption case in which he was declared innocent by the court in 2018 but the acquittal was challenged in the IHC by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Sharif was living in exile in Saudi Arabia at the time the mill was set up after the former military ru

23 soldiers killed in terror attack in Pakistan, toll likely to rise: Army

At least 23 soldiers were killed on Tuesday when militants linked to a Pakistani Taliban affiliate rammed an explosive-laden truck into a security forces' post in restive Khyber-Paktunkhwa's Dera Ismail Khan district, the army said. The Inter-Services Public Relations - the media wing of the army - said that the terrorists rammed the explosive-laden vehicle after their attempts to gain entry were 'effectively thwarted' in the unruly Dera Ismail Khan district bordering the South Waziristan tribal district. The attack was followed by another suicide attack, leading to the collapse of the building, causing multiple casualties. At least 23 soldiers were killed as a group of six terrorists attacked the security forces' post in Dera Ismail Khan's Daraban area in the early hours of December 12, the army said. All the attackers were killed by the security forces while fresh contingents of police were rushed to the site, and a subsequent search operation was launched, officials said. The .

At least 6 policemen killed, 16 injured in terror attack in Pakistan

At least four security personnel were killed and 16 injured on Tuesday when terrorists attacked a police station in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to the police. Terrorists attacked the Daraban police station in a remote part of the unruly Dera Ismail Khan district bordering the South Waziristan tribal district. The terrorists rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the building of the police station, which was followed by a mortar attack. In an exchange of fire between the security forces and the attackers which followed the attack, at least four security personnel were killed and 16 injured, police said. Police also gunned down two terrorists during the gunfight, according to ARY News channel. Following the attack, fresh contingents of police were rushed to the site, according to the police. An emergency was declared in district hospitals while all schools and colleges were closed due to the attack.

Imran Khan got Afghans included in voter lists: PPP leader Asif Zardari

The former president also hinted at the possibility of a "little delay" in the elections but said his party had no problem with it

Pakistan dismisses SC's Article 370 verdict, says it has no legal value

Pakistan on Monday said India's Supreme Court verdict upholding the abrogation of Article 370 has "no legal value", asserting that the international law doesn't recognise New Delhi's "unilateral and illegal actions" of August 5, 2019. The Supreme Court on Monday unanimously upheld the Centre government's decision of August 2019 to abrogate Article 370, which bestowed a special status on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. "International law doesn't recognise India's unilateral and illegal actions of 5 August 2019. The judicial endorsement by the Indian Supreme Court has no legal value. Kashmiris have an inalienable right to self determination in accordance with the relevant UN SC resolutions," Pakistan's caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani said in a post on X. Earlier, former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif criticised the apex court's verdict, calling it a "biased decision." "The Indian Supreme Court has violated th

UN agency warns of Afghans dying in winter if they don't get proper shelter

The UN refugee agency has warned that Afghans could die in harsh winter conditions if they don't get adequate shelter once they cross the border from Pakistan. Almost half a million Afghans have left Pakistan since early October, when the Islamabad government announced it would arrest and deport foreigners it said were in the country illegally. The overwhelming majority of them are from neighboring Afghanistan, though Islamabad insists the policy doesn't target a specific nationality. The forced returns are piling pressure on Afghanistan and aid agencies, which are providing the bulk of essential services like health care. Freezing temperatures are setting in and conditions at the border remain dire. Many Afghan returnees are vulnerable, including women and children, who could lose their lives in a harsh winter if left without adequate shelter, the U.N. refugee agency said in a report published Friday. People arriving at the border are exhausted and require urgent assistance as well

Maldives reports contamination in Pakistani syrups, suspension medicines

The report prompted the World Health Organisation to issue an alert urging countries to step up vigilance and test products manufactured by a Lahore-based pharmaceutical company, according to Dawn

Nawaz Sharif seeking fourth term via selection: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto

The PPP chairman's remarks come as political parties in Pakistan prepare for the upcoming general elections slated for February 8 next year

Cash-strapped Pakistan secures $655 million financing package from ADB

Cash-strapped Pakistan has secured a USD 655 million financing package, including an expensive USD 300 million loan at market rates, from the Asian Development Bank, days after Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar declared the country's public debt as unsustainable. The ADB approved a financing package for Pakistan under three different loans. Among other components, these include USD 300 million for improving domestic resource mobilisation; USD 275 million for rehabilitating schools damaged by the devastating August 2022 floods; and USD 80 million for enhancing agricultural productivity to improve food security, according to an announcement by the ADB on Wednesday. The announcement by the Manila-based lending agency came as the World Bank's Debt Management and Sustainability Mission met with Finance Minister AKhtar to review the debt management of the country, reported the Express Tribune newspaper. Last week, Dr Akhtar announced that Pakistan's debt burden has become unsustainable --

3 killed, several shops damaged at massive fire in Pak's Karachi: Officials

A massive fire broke out Wednesday at a multi-story commercial building in Pakistan's largest southern port city of Karachi, killing at least three people and damaging several shops, police and rescue officials said. The fire started at a furniture store and quickly engulfed other shops on the ground floor of the building known as Ayesha Manzil, said Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab. He said firefighters doused the flames after hectic efforts. Wahab and hospital officials said three people died in the blaze and one person was injured. TV footage showed billowing into the sky as flames engulfed parts of the building. The cause of the fire was not immediately clear and officers said they were still investigating. Most structures in Karachi, and other parts of the country, lack fire prevention and firefighting systems, which often results in damages and casualties. Karachi is the capital of southern Sindh province, where such incidents are common. Wednesday's blaze came less than two we

Pak court rejects Imran Khan's plea to withdraw appeal in Toshakhana case

A Pakistani high court on Wednesday rejected jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's plea seeking the withdrawal of his appeal against his disqualification in the Toshakhana corruption case. Khan, 71, has been in jail since August 5, when he was arrested after a conviction in the Toshakhana case. He was disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the case for failing to disclose the proceeds from the sale of gifts he got from the Toshakhana (state repository). The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PIT) party leader approached the Islamabad High Court Chief (IHC) against the electoral body's decision, contending that he had purchased the assets legally; hence, there was no reason for him not to mention the gifts in his assets statement. However, on January 18, the PTI filed a fresh plea in the IHC to withdraw the petition, saying the cricketer-turned-politician wanted the Lahore High Court (LHC) to hear the matter. A separate petition had been filed in the LHC against Khan

Deceased Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode's associate held in Punjab

Punjab Police on Tuesday claimed to have arrested an associate of deceased Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode from Amritsar. Paramjit Singh alias Dhadi was allegedly involved in terror funding and other subversive activities, police said. Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, in a post on X, said, "In a major breakthrough, SSOC (State Special Operation Cell) Amritsar has arrested #UK based, Paramjit Singh @ Punjab Singh @ Dhadi from #Amritsar airport." "An associate of Lakhbir Rode, Chief of banned terrorist outfit #ISYF, Dhadi has been involved in terror funding & other subversive activities in #Punjab," Yadav said. The police chief said an investigation is underway to unearth and expose the terrorist network and termed Singh's arrest as a "major blow" to the terror module attempting to disturb peace in the region. Meanwhile, Rode, who was among India's most wanted men and the nephew of late Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, died in Pakistan on Monday. The 72-year-old .

Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode dies of heart attack in Pakistan

Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode, among India's most wanted' men and the nephew of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, has died of a heart attack in Pakistan, officials said on Tuesday. The 72-year-old, who was the brain of the Khalistani separatist movement, had fled to Pakistan after Bhindranwale's death and settled down in Lahore. He is believed to have died on Monday, the officials said. Rode was head of the International Sikh Youth Federation.

Four injured in IED blast in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province

At least four people, including three children, were injured on Tuesday when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded here in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. According to the police, the blast occurred around 9:10 am near a school in the provincial capital Peshawar, Geo News reported. At least four kilogrammes of explosives, planted in a cemented block on the side of the road, were used in the blast. Police and rescue teams were sent to the site as soon as the blast was reported, Warsak Superintendent of Police Arshad Khan was quoted as saying by the Dawn newspaper. The injured children, between the ages of seven and 10, were moved to a private hospital, the report said. The condition of two children was critical, a spokesperson of the Peshawar Lady Reading Hospital was quoted as saying in the report. Khan said that the police launched a search operation in the surrounding areas. The element of extortion is also being considered in the blast," he was quoted a

US officials to visit Pakistan in Dec to discuss Afghanistan, other issues

Islamabad has been continuously blaming Kabul for rising terrorist attacks and usage of Afghan oil to carry out attacks in its neighbouring country

Pakistan records 34% increase in militant attacks in November: Report

Anti-state violence in Pakistan surged 34 per cent in November, with 63 militant attacks recorded in the country during the month, a think-tank report said on Sunday. The 63 militant attacks in November resulted in 83 deaths, including that of 37 security forces personnel and 33 civilians, the Dawn newspaper reported, citing data by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) think tank. Additionally, 89 individuals, including 53 civilians and 36 security forces personnel, sustained injuries, according to the Islamabad-based think tank. Compared to October's data, a 34 per cent surge in militant attacks, a 63 per cent rise in fatalities, and an 89 per cent increase in the number of injured persons was recorded during November. Pakistani security forces killed at least 59 militants and arrested at least 18 suspected terrorists during the month, according to the report. The data showed an 81 per cent escalation in militant attacks in the first eleven months of 2

Pakistan sends back around 402,312 'illegal' Afghans to their homeland

"Thousands of Afghans are returning to their homeland on a daily basis through Chaman and Torkham borders, thanking Pakistan for its generosity," Radio Pakistan reported