Page 91 - Pakistan

Ex-PM Nawaz Sharif will return to Pakistan in October: Brother Shehbaz

Pakistan's former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday that his brother and former premier Nawaz Sharif will return to the country in October and ahead of general elections. Nawaz Sharif, 73, has been living in self-imposed exile in the UK since November 2019. He was convicted in the Al-Azizia Mills and Avenfield corruption cases in 2018. He was serving a seven-year imprisonment at Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail in the Al-Azizia Mills case before he was allowed to proceed to London in 2019 on "medical grounds". The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo will return to Pakistan in October, Shehbaz told media persons in London, the Dawn newspaper reported. We held consultations with the senior leadership of the party, and we have decided that our quaid [leader] Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif will return to Pakistan in October, Shehbaz said, alongside his older brother. Earlier this month, former prime minister Shehbaz, 71, said that his elder brother Nawaz would return to Pakis

Pak rupee marks record closing low for 4th straight day on rising outflows

The rupee touched a record low for a fourth consecutive day and has depreciated 3.2% since Aug. 15, after a caretaker government took over

3 TTP terrorists killed by Pakistan's security forces in shootout

Three terrorists belonging to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed by security forces on Friday during an operation in a restive tribal district in northwest Pakistan bordering Afghanistan. According to sources, the security forces exchanged fire with the terrorists after they fired at them in the South Waziristan tribal district. In the shootout, three terrorists were killed and the remaining fled. The security forces launched a massive combing operation after the gunbattle to arrest the perpetrators. Earlier this week, six Pakistani soldiers and four terrorists were killed when the TTP militants attacked a convoy of security forces in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The outfit, which is believed to be close to Al-Qaeda, has been blamed for several deadly attacks across Pakistan, including an attack on army headquarters in 2009, assaults on military bases, and the 2008 bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad.

Chandrayaan-3 on Pak media's front-page, politician calls it 'great moment'

Despite the chill in bilateral ties, Pakistan's media on Thursday gave front-page coverage to India's historic moon landing while a former minister even called it a "great moment" for India's space agency, ISRO. 'India becomes first nation to land near Moon's south pole' was the headline in most of the Pakistani newspapers and websites. This was India's second attempt to land a spacecraft on the Moon and comes less than a week after Russia's Luna-25 mission failed. The Geo News carried a story by its Web Desk about the landing, saying India's Chandrayaan-3 has finally landed on the moon after a 40-day journey starting from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota and a history of space crashing. The News International, the Dawn newspaper, the Business Recorder, Dunya News and others carried stories by various international news agencies. Fawad Chaudhry, who was Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting in the Imran Khan-led government, called it a great moment for the

Pak court resumes hearing on Imran Khan's appeal in Toshakhana case

The Islamabad High Court on Thursday resumed hearing on an appeal filed by jailed former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan challenging his conviction and sentence by a sessions court in the Toshakhana corruption case. Judge Humayun Dilawar of the Islamabad-based court on August 5 sentenced Khan, 70, to three years in prison for hiding the proceeds from the sale of state gifts. The case was launched in October last year on the complaint of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) which had earlier disqualified Khan in the same case. Khan within days had challenged the conviction in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), seeking to suspend his sentence and overturn the judgment. The court held the initial hearing on August 22 but adjourned the cases till August 24 after the ECP Lawyer Amjad Pervez stated that he had not been provided with the record of the case and needed time to prepare. Khan's lawyer Latif Khosa opposed the move by the ECP counsel and pressed for a hearing and grant o

Toshakhana case: Nawaz Sharif says Pak Chief Justice supports ex-PM Imran

Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday accused Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial of trying to save Imran Khan after he picked holes in the conviction of the ex-premier in the Toshakhana corruption case verdict. Chief Justice Bandial on Wednesday said there were "shortcomings" in the trial court's Toshakhana case judgment against the 70-year-old Khan. "The chief justice is well aware that this person [Imran Khan] has wreaked havoc on Pakistan's economy, ethics, and culture. He has propagated violence and repeatedly violated the Constitution," Sharif told reporters outside his Avenfield residence in London, where he has been living since 2019.

'Shortcomings' in trial court's judgment against Imran: Pak chief justice

Pakistan's Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Wednesday said there were "shortcomings" in the Toshakhana corruption case judgment convicting former premier Imran Khan and the Supreme Court would give its verdict after seeing the outcome of the hearing in the high court. The Islamabad High Court is set to hear on Thursday a petition challenging the conviction of 70-year-old Khan, who was sentenced to three years in jail on August 5 by a session court.

Pak police arresst 60 more people in connection with mob attack on churches

Pakistani authorities have arrested 60 more people in connection with the unprecedented mob attack on 21 churches in Punjab province, taking the total number of suspects under detention to more than 200, a top police official said on Wednesday. A mob ransacked and torched 21 churches and several houses of Christians last week over blasphemy allegations in Jaranwala town of Faisalabad district, 130 km from Punjab's provincial capital Lahore. A Christian cemetery and the office of the local assistant commissioner were also vandalised. Police had arrested 145 suspects subsequently. "We have arrested some 60 more suspects after which the number of total arrested crossed 200 in the Jaranwala incident. The arrests have been made through video footage," Punjab Inspector General Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar said on Wednesday. Talking to reporters, he said the police would present all kinds of evidence before the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) to get them convicted. "We will set an example throu

Pakistan Prez invites top election official for meet to set date for polls

Pakistan President Arif Alvi on Wednesday invited the top election official of the country for a meeting to set a date for the upcoming general elections. Alvi wrote a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, citing the constitutional requirement for the president to decide a date for general elections within 90 days of the dissolution of the National Assembly (NA). The National Assembly was dissolved on August 9 which makes it mandatory for the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold polls within 90 days after the dissolution. However, the ECP is set to delay the election in order to carry out delimitation in the light of the new census, which is also a constitutional requirement. The president wrote a letter to CEC for a meeting to be held "today or tomorrow to fix an appropriate date for general elections, according to the letter posted on platform X through the President's account. Alvi wrote that "by virtue of Article 48(5) of the Constitution of the .

PM Modi's rakhi sister from Pak to tie him rakhi this Raksha Bandhan

Pakistani lady Qamar Mohsin Shaikh, who shifted to India post her marriage has stated that she will tie a rakhi to PM Modi in Delhi

8 passengers, including 6 children trapped on cable car in Pakistan

Rescue operations are underway for the passengers who have been trapped in the open chairlift since at least 8 am

New washroom constructed at ex-Pak PM Imran Khan's cell for privacy

A new washroom with a five-feet high wall with a door has been constructed at the Attock jail cell of Imran Khan after the former Pakistan prime minister complained to the court about the poor living conditions and lack of privacy, a senior Punjab government prison official said on Tuesday. Khan is serving a three-year sentence after being convicted in the Toshakhana corruption case.

Pak Prez Alvi sacks his secy amid controversy on signing of two key bills

Pakistan President Arif Alvi sacked his secretary on Monday, a day after he said he did not personally sign two key bills and had instructed his staff to return them unsigned within the stipulated time to make them ineffective. Pakistan's President Arif Alvi on Sunday denied that he signed the Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2023 after the local media reported that the president had signed the two bills which became laws. The President's Secretariat said in a statement that Alvi asked for the replacement of Secretary Waqar Ahmed whose services were no more required. In view of the definite statement of yesterday, President's Secretariat has written a letter to Principal Secretary to Prime Minister that the services of Mr Waqar Ahmed, Secretary to President, are no more required and are surrendered to the Establishment Division, immediately, the statement said. The president also asked that Humaira Ahmed, a BPS-22 officer of the Pakis

Civilian killed in 'unprovoked firing' along LoC in Nikial sector: Pakistan

Pakistan on Monday claimed that a civilian was killed in "unprovoked firing" at the Line of Control (LoC) in Nikial sector. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the media wing of the army - identified the civilian as 60-year-old Ghias, a resident of Village Oli of Kotli district. It said that three women cutting grass in the fields were "traumatised" as well. The statement termed Monday's incident as "a clear violation of existing Ceasefire Understandings." "Pakistan desires peace and tranquillity at its borders, however, all necessary measures will be taken to protect the life and property of our citizens," it added.

Pak caretaker PM gives compensation of Rs 2 mn each to Christian families

Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Monday visited the violence-hit Jaranwala town in Punjab province and handed out a compensation of Rs 2 million each to around 100 Christian families whose homes were burnt down along with 21 churches by a mob of radical Islamists last week. The mob ransacked and torched 21 churches and several houses of Christians last week over blasphemy allegations in Jaranwala town of Faisalabad district, 130 km from Punjab's provincial capital Lahore. A Christian cemetery and the office of the local assistant commissioner were also vandalised. Kakar visited Jaranwala to express solidarity with the victims of the Christian community, where he distributed cheques worth two million rupees (USD 6,800) each to the affected people. He assured all the minority communities in the country that the government is committed to protecting their lives and properties as he pledged to bring the perpetrators of heinous attacks against Christians to ...

Former Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif reaches London; meeting with Nawaz scheduled

In a post shared on the X (formerly known as Twitter), Pakistan's Information and Broadcasting Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb confirmed that they will meet during PML-N President's stay in the UK

Did not sign newly 'passed' laws, says Pakistan President Arif Alvi

Pakistan media reported that the Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill and the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2023 were passed and became laws on Sunday after President Arif Alvi signed the bills, but President Alvi said on X that he did not sign the bills as he disagreed with the laws. "As God is my witness, I did not sign Official Secrets Amendment Bill 2023 & Pakistan Army Amendment Bill 2023 as I disagreed with these laws. I asked my staff to return the bills unsigned within stipulated time to make them ineffective. I confirmed from them many times that whether they have been returned & was assured that they were. However I have found out today that my staff undermined my will and command. As Allah knows all, He will forgive IA. But I ask forgiveness from those who will be affected," Pakistan President Arif Alvi wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.The president tweeted that he asked his staff to return the bills unsigned within the stipulated time to make them ...

Over 10,000 evacuated as areas near Pakistan's River Sutlej get flooded

Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that the concerned authorities are monitoring the flood situation as 278000 cusecs of water rushed near Ganda Singh Border, Kasur

Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Muslim League urge Prez Alvi to step down

Ministry of Law and Justice said a bill is sent to the president under the Constitution's Article 75 and he has two options - either approve it or return it with objections

16 killed, 11 injured after bus catches fire near Pak's Pindi Bhattian

The bus carrying 35 to 40 passengers was en route from Karachi to Islamabad, Geo News reported citing rescue officials