News Updates Pk

A special anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Faislabad sentenced on Thursday top Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders to up to 10 years in prison in cases pertaining to May 9 protests.  Opposition leader in National Assembly Omar Ayub, opposition leader in Senate Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul, MNA Sahibzada Hamid Raza and former MNA Sheikh Rashid Shafiq - former interior minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed's nephew - were among the 108 PTI leaders convicted out of the 185 implicated in the cases while 77 others were acquited.  Around 60 of those convicted including Shibli Faraz, Omar Ayub, Zartaj Gul and Hamid Raza were sentenced to 10 years in prison each while other convicts were each handed prison terms of three years.  Meanwhile, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry was acquitted along with Zain Qureshi, Khayal Kastro, Faizullah Kamoka, Rana Asad Mehmood Khan, Bilal Ashraf Basra, Haroon Rasheed, Amara Rasheed, Sahibzada Hassan Raza, and Kamran Warraich. Shafiq was absent from c...

Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, has said that the AI policy approved by the federal cabinet is a revolutionary step aimed at placing Pakistan among the developed nations of the world. Sharing the broad contours of the policy in a televised message on Monday, she emphasised that AI is bringing major transformation not only in IT and technology, but across all walks of life, including health, education, trade, and economy. She expressed the commitment to ensuring that every person in Pakistan reaps the benefits of AI. Under the policy, she said a fund will be established to support and promote the innovative ideas of youth and their startups. She added that the policy will empower and prepare the youth for market-oriented jobs. The comprehensive policy envisages several projects to ensure that AI education reaches every individual. Shaza Fatima said the policy also focuses on the security of citizens' data and that AI will be used to further impro...

Pakistan successfully launched its latest remote sensing satellite from China’s Xichang Satellite Launch Centre (XSLC), said the foreign ministry on Thursday.  The launch was carried out by SUPARCO, Pakistan’s national space agency, in collaboration with the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) and MICROSAT China. China on Thursday successfully launched a Kuaizhou-1A carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan, sending a remote-sensing satellite of Pakistan into the planned orbit. This marks the 29th flight of the Kuaizhou-1A carrier rocket. pic.twitter.com/sZvfMD9fYF — China Science (@ChinaScience) July 31, 2025 The ministry said the satellite would significantly enhance Pakistan’s capacity for high-resolution, round-the-clock Earth observation. It will support a range of areas, including disaster management, urban planning, environmental protection, agricultural monitoring, food security, climate change analysis, and ...

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Wednesday said that innocent and unarmed civilians were martyred in the Bajaur incident and asserted that decisions should not be imposed on the province without consultation. An emergency meeting on the law and order situation was held under the chairmanship of the chief minister. The meeting was attended by members of the PTI parliamentary party, the chief secretary, the inspector general of police, the additional chief secretary, and other relevant officials. During the meeting, the law and order situation was reviewed in light of the Bajaur incident, and the chief minister was briefed by relevant authorities on the latest developments. Following the meeting, CM Gandapur issued a video statement, stating that the provincial government stands by the decisions made during the recent All Parties Conference on peace and security. He said the government is preparing for the implementation of those decisions. Calling the Bajaur incide...

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced that this year’s Independence Day celebrations will take place over 14 days, from August 1 to 14, under the theme Marka-e-Haq.” Speaking at a press conference in Karachi with Senior Ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon and Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, he said the extended celebrations demonstrate a unified effort by the federal and provincial governments to commemorate the national achievements of May. He said the decision was made in coordination with the federal government to reinforce the importance of national independence. August 14 would not be limited to a single day this year. The Chief Minister noted that Pakistan’s armed forces gave a decisive response to the neighbouring country, and the events throughout August will recognize that. He added, “Those who don’t participate in these celebrations will be noticed by the people.” “We have never accepted defeat. We will not cancel any programs out of fear of terrorism,” Shah said. He assured ...

A three-member bench of the Lahore High Court, headed by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum, on Wednesday suspended the by-election schedule issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for NA-175 after the disqualification of PTI’s Jamshed Dasti. The petitioner had challenged his disqualification before the LHC’s Multan Bench. Due to the sensitivity of the matter, the bench proposed the constitution of a larger bench and referred the case to the court’s principal seat. Subsequently, the petitioner filed an additional plea seeking early hearing, drawing the court’s attention to the ECP’s announced by-election schedule. He argued that delaying the hearing would amount to depriving him of his legal right. The petitioner further submitted that funds were being allocated for development projects, which would be wasted if the ECP’s decision was later overturned. As proceedings began, the petitioner’s counsel argued that the ECP does not have the authority to disqualify a candidate without a ...

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering support for Palestine’s right to an independent state, emphasising the importance of the pre-1967 borders. Speaking at the United Nations High-Level International Conference on "The Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution" in New York, Dar highlighted his nation's long-standing stance on the Palestinian issue. "For over 75 years, the Palestinian people have endured occupation, displacement, and the denial of their fundamental rights," said Dar, addressing the assembled diplomats and officials. Statement by Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar* Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of Pakistan *At the High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution* (28 July 2025) *** Honourable… pic.twitter.com/TnSg7df9KV — Permanent Mission of Pa...

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Jr, grandson of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, announced on Tuesday that he and his sister Fatima Bhutto, will soon launch a new political party — distancing themselves from the current leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Speaking at a press conference at his residence in Karachi’s Clifton area, Bhutto Jr said he had no backing from the establishment and was building his political identity independently. “I have no support from the establishment; this is a lie. I am trying to build myself on my own. My sister Fatima Bhutto is coming, and together we will announce the party. Our youth wing will be with us.” Bhutto Jr categorically ruled out any collaboration with the PPP, saying the party had been hijacked and no longer represented the ideals of its founding leadership. “We reject the Zardari League. This is not the PPP of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto or Mir Murtaza Bhutto Shaheed. We will never work with this PPP.” He said the PPP today was working fo...

In another overture of peace, Pakistan on Tuesday once again extended the olive branch to arch-rival India and has offered composite dialogue with New Delhi to settle outstanding issues between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.  The latest offer was extended by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.  Addressing a news conference in New York, he stated that the dialogue would not be limited to terrorism, stressing that Pakistan has been one of the biggest victims of terrorism. Dar also noted that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war against terrorism during a recent meeting. The deputy prime minister further elaborated that during the bilateral meeting with Rubio, the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute was also discussed. He underscored that permanent peace in the region is not possible without a resolution of the Kashmir issue, recalling that US President Donald Trump had raised the matter multiple times. Speaking on the Indus...

The main suspect in the murder of a 13-year-old girl was shot and killed by police in Kasur's Kot Radha Kishan area during a raid by law enforcers.  A second suspect in the case was arrested in an injured condition. Police claimed that the raid was carried out after the suspects were located by police and the Counter-Crime Department (CCD) in Kasur district.  The body of the teenage girl was found in the fields around Kot Radha Kishan. According to investigators, the victim resided with the second suspect, Nageena Bibi, and was last seen with the two suspects.  Police officials said the girl was abused by the prime suspect, before she was taken to a secluded area and killed. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had directed to apprehend those responsible for the crime.  Read: Three neighbours arrested for rape, murder of teen girl Earlier in July, a case of sexual assault and murder shook Khokhrapar Malir Extension Colony, after the body of 16-year-old Areeb...

Former chief justice of Pakistan Jawad S Khawaja has filed a contempt petition against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for failing to implement the Supreme Court’s May 7 order in the military courts case. The petition states that the apex court had directed the federal government to amend the law or legislate within 45 days to provide civilians convicted by military courts the right to appeal to a High Court. According to Khawaja, the government has not complied with the order. "This is a straightforward case. The Supreme Court gave a direction to the Federal Government to make necessary amendments/legislation to provide an independent appellate right to the High Court from decisions in court martial proceedings within 45 days. This direction has not been complied with," the petition reads. It further claims that the federal government has disobeyed a binding order of the court and that the Prime Minister, as the respondent, is liable for this failure. “In cases of violation of...

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) recorded at least 405 honour killings across the country in 2024. Most victims are women, often killed by relatives claiming to defend family honour. While hundreds of so-called honour killings are reported in Pakistan each year, often with little public or legal response, the video of a woman and man being taken to a remote area by a group of men to be killed has struck a nerve. A viral video of the "honour killing" of a woman and man in Balochistan has ignited national outrage, prompting scrutiny of long-standing tribal codes and calls for justice in a country where such killings often pass in silence. The authorities have made at least 16 arrests in the case thus far.  The video shows the woman, Bano Bibi, being handed a copy of the Holy Quran by a man identified by police as her brother. "Come walk seven steps with me, after that you can shoot me," she says, and she walks forward a few feet and stops with her back to th...

At least 279 people have died and 676 others have been injured as a result of monsoon floods that swept across Pakistan from June 26 to July 25, 2025, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The flooding, triggered by seasonal rains, also destroyed 1,553 houses and led to the death of 374 livestock. Punjab was the hardest-hit province, with 151 fatalities and 535 injuries. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) followed with 64 deaths and 80 injured, while Sindh recorded 25 deaths and 40 injuries. Gilgit-Baltistan suffered the most extensive property damage, with 533 houses impacted — 342 of them destroyed. Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) reported 299 damaged homes, K-P 291, and Punjab 223. The largest livestock losses were recorded in K-P (135) and Punjab (123). Rescue efforts have been ongoing, with 148 operations carried out across the country. Punjab saw the bulk of these operations with 128 missions, while K-P, Sindh, and other regions accounted for the remainder. No r...

  Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephonic conversation with the Foreign Minister of Turkiye, Hakan Fidan. The two leaders strongly condemned Israel’s ongoing atrocities in Gaza and expressed grave concern over the deepening humanitarian catastrophe, including starvation, forced displacement, and loss of innocent lives. They underscored the urgency of unimpeded humanitarian aid, an immediate ceasefire, and united international efforts for a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace. Expressing unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their just cause, they hoped for meaningful outcomes from the international conference on the implementation of the two-state solution, being held today at the UN. Read: 27 Palestinians dead in Israeli strikes Meanwhile, the Gaza civil defence agency said Israeli army fire killed 27 Palestinians, 12 of them near aid distribution areas. However, Jordanian and Emirati planes dropped food into Gaza on Sunday, as Is...

Authorities on Sunday recovered four more bodies from a fishing boat that capsized near Gwadar, bringing the total death toll to five. The boat, carrying six fishermen from Karachi, sank due to strong winds and rough waves in the Arabian Sea earlier this week. The deceased include Ayub, a resident of Ibrahim Hyderi, whose body was recovered a day earlier and laid to rest on Sunday. His son Zeeshan, also among the victims, is expected to be brought to Karachi from Gwadar by Monday night. The remaining three victims, identified as residents of Machar Colony, were also transported to the city for burial. One fisherman miraculously survived the incident. Read More: One dead, several missing as boat sinks near Gwadar Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) media coordinator Kamal Shah confirmed that six fishermen were on board at the time of the accident. “Five have died while one survived,” he said. PFF Chairman Mehran Ali Shah, speaking to media at Ayub’s funeral, said the fishing community f...

Pakistan is set to launch another remote‑sensing satellite from a Chinese launch centre next week, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) announced on Sunday. The satellite will enhance Earth observation capabilities to support national resource management and bolster disaster response systems. The new satellite, set to launch from China’s Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) on July 31, is expected to serve a broad range of national priorities — from precision agriculture and urban planning to infrastructure monitoring, transport network mapping, and hazard risk assessment. It will also bolster disaster preparedness by providing real-time alerts for floods, earthquakes, landslides, glacier melt, and deforestation. SUPARCO stated that integration of this satellite with PRSS‑1 (launched July 2018) and EO‑1 (January 2025) will reinforce Pakistan’s space-based ecosystem under the National Space Policy and Vision 2047, aiming to position the country as a leader in r...

A leopard killed an eight-year-old girl after straying into a residential area near the Line of Control (LoC) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Hattian Bala district, officials said on Sunday. According to police, the tragic incident took place in Pando Nala, a village located roughly 15 kilometres from Chinari and about 65km from Muzaffarabad, the regional capital. The area lies in close proximity to the LoC. The predator reportedly entered the courtyard of a house and snatched the girl, taking her into nearby woodland, police said. The family and locals began searching the area immediately, combing nearby fields and forested patches in hopes of recovering the child. Also Read: Three snakes rescued from homes Three hours later, the girl’s body was discovered in a dense thicket. A police official said the leopard appeared to have bitten the child on the neck and sucked her blood before fleeing into the adjacent forest. Authorities have urged residents in surrounding villages to remain vigila...

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan has emerged from diplomatic isolation and is witnessing economic recovery, highlighting a sharp drop in inflation and growing international engagement. Speaking to the Pakistani community at the Consulate General in New York on Saturday, Dar said, “We have made considerable progress, especially in political and economic fields, in the past three years, despite heavy odds – we are indeed a resilient nation.” Dar, who returned earlier in the day from Washington, said his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was held in a cordial atmosphere and covered key global and regional matters. “The meeting went very well,” he said, expressing hope for stronger bilateral ties. Present at the event were Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, and Consul General Aamir Ahmed Atozai. Dar told the audience that Pakistan was no longer isol...

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has reaffirmed the federal government’s unwavering support for Balochistan in its fight against terrorism, during a high-level meeting held in Quetta to review law and order. In a statement released on Saturday, Naqvi co-chaired the special session at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat with Chief Minister Sarfraz Ahmad Bugti. The meeting focused on the overall security situation in Balochistan, the performance of law enforcement agencies, and ongoing operations against “Fitna-e-Hindustan” – a term used for Indian-sponsored terrorists operating in the region. Attendees included the Balochistan IGP, Frontier Corps (North) IG, Counter Terrorism Department DIG, Special Branch DIG, Levies DG, senior officials from the Home and Tribal Affairs Department, and other representatives of law enforcement agencies. Read: Three Indian-sponsored terrorists killed in Swat: CTD Chief Minister Bugti briefed the meeting on the current security scenario, progress made...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the development of a digital ecosystem within the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), as part of the government's ongoing reform efforts, Radio Pakistan reported. Chairing a meeting in Islamabad on Saturday to review progress on FBR reforms, the PM directed that globally recognised experts be engaged to design and implement the new digital system. He instructed that all data—from the import and production of raw materials to product manufacturing and consumer purchases—must be integrated into a single centralised system to enable real-time, end-to-end monitoring. The prime minister emphasised that the system should be made so effective that the entire value chain can be digitally monitored. He added that the centralised data must be used to inform strategic economic decision-making. He further stressed that the key to reducing the tax burden on the common citizen lies in broadening the tax base and eliminating the informal economy. Read: PM Sh...

The bullet-riddled bodies of three individuals were found near the M-8 highway in Khuzdar district of Balochistan, Express News reported on Saturday.  The victims, identified as Abdul Majeed, Ata-ur-Rehman, and Mumtaz, were shot dead by unidentified assailants and dumped by the roadside, according to local police. All three were residents of Khuzdar, initial reports confirmed. Police and rescue teams arrived at the scene and shifted the bodies to Khuzdar Teaching Hospital via Edhi ambulance. An investigation is under way. No suspects have been identified, and the motive remains unclear. Security forces have increased patrols in the area. Read: 17 terrorists killed, eight arrested in K-P, Balochistan Earlier this week, Balochistan police arrested 14 suspects over the 'honour killing' of a couple accused of having an affair, including a local tribal chief who allegedly ordered their deaths, officials said on Monday. The killings, which occurred last month, gained widespread atten...

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir undertook a high-level official visit to the People’s Republic of China, where he held a series of meetings with senior Chinese political and military leadership to further reinforce the strategic partnership between the two brotherly nations, the military said in a statement on Friday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the COAS called on His Excellency Han Zheng, Vice President of the People’s Republic of China, and His Excellency Wang Yi, Foreign Minister of China. During these engagements, matters of mutual interest were discussed, including the evolving regional and global security environment, ongoing connectivity initiatives under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and coordinated approaches to emerging geopolitical challenges. Also Read: Pakistan calls on tech firms to curb terror content “Both sides expressed satisfaction over the depth of bilateral engagement and reiterated their shared commit...

Senator Faisal Vawda has strongly criticised a "Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officer over mistreatment of the public" and demanded the officer's immediate dismissal, not suspension. The senator's reaction came on viral video making rounds on social media depicting an official in Karachi traffic police uniform intercepting an unregistered vehicle bearing the FBR logo and no number plate.  In a tweet shared on X, Vawda expressed disappointment that "neither the Prime Minister, nor the Finance Minister, nor the FBR Chairperson had yet taken action against the official". He noted he had maintained strong working relations with them for the country’s progress. https://ift.tt/KxUnAvL “It must be made clear that suspension is not enough. This officer, who behaves like a tyrant with the very public he is paid to serve, must be dismissed from service,” the senator said, calling such conduct "unacceptable under any circumstances". Read: FBR to purchase new...

Pakistan has ramped up efforts to counter online extremism by urging international social media companies to take stronger action against terrorist content, while inviting them to establish local offices in the country, senior officials said Friday. “We are building walls against terrorism, not silencing free speech,” said Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhary, during a press briefing outlining Pakistan’s new digital security push. He said Pakistan remains a “global bulwark in the fight against terrorism” and has detected hundreds of terrorism-linked accounts on platforms like Facebook, YouTube and X (formerly Twitter). According to the Ministry of Interior, groups such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP), Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) are actively using social media to spread propaganda and recruit youth. The government said 2,417 complaints related to terrorist content are currently under review, and pla...

The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has accelerated its aerial surveillance and digital‑mapping operations in and around Lahore, and other sensitive zones, to prevent bird‑related aviation hazards. EPA officials say the agency’s Aerial Surveillance Force is conducting reconnaissance flights over key locations, including Lahore Airport, to identify bird activity and nesting sites. They are using advanced technology to geo‑tag nests and bird cages on digital maps, enabling swift removal. The e‑mapping process is expected to conclude within two days. According to the EPA’s latest “Dening Report,” a targeted operation near Mehfooz Shaheed Garrison, close to Harbanspura Ring Road, removed 20 kite nests and 30 crow nests. Pigeon cages were also dismantled at five different locations, including Baden Road and Gulshan Park. Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb warned that bird nests pose a serious threat to aircraft and urged the public to refrain from feeding birds in open...

A Pakistan Army major and a sepoy embraced martyrdom while three terrorists belonging to the Indian-backed group "Fitna al Hindustan" were killed during an intelligence-based operation in Balochistan’s Mastung district, the military said on Thursday. According to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation was launched on July 23 following reports of terrorist presence in the area. “During the conduct of the operation, own troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location, and resultantly, three terrorists were sent to hell,” the statement said. On 23 July 2025, Security Forces conducted an intelligence based operation in Mastung District, on reported presence of terrorists belonging to Indian Proxy, Fitna al Hindustan. During the conduct of operation, own troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location and… pic.twitter.com/9nwFrF4B3F — DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) July 24, 2025 However, during the intense exchange of fire, Major Zeeyyad Sali...

The Pakistan Navy on Thursday launched the locally designed and developed Gun Boat PNS Sahiwal at a ceremony held at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW). Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami, attended the event as chief guest. The vessel, developed under the Navy’s policy of indigenisation and self-reliance, has been designed by the Navy’s Platform Design Wing and was under construction at KS&EW. Launching ceremony of PNS SAHIWAL (Desig) Gun Boat held at @ShipyardKarachi. VCNS V/Adm Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami graced occasion as CG. The Gun Boat is indigenously designed by Platform Design Wing of PN & is under construction at KS&EW. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/N66OicFXFY — DGPR (Navy) (@dgprPaknavy) July 24, 2025 Speaking on the occasion, Vice Admiral Bilgrami praised the collaborative efforts of the Platform Design Wing and KS&EW, describing the project as a significant milestone in Pakistan’s indigenous shipbuilding capability. He also ac...

Despite official claims of preparedness, Punjab has emerged as the hardest-hit province in this year’s monsoon season, recording the highest number of fatalities and injuries in rain-related incidents, according to a new report issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Since the onset of the monsoon season, a total of 266 people have died and 628 have been injured nationwide. The deceased include 94 men, 46 women, and 126 children. The latest report, released on Thursday, stated that eight people died and six were injured across the country in the past 24 hours alone due to weather-related incidents. Among the latest casualties, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) reported three deaths and five injuries, Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) each recorded two fatalities, while one death occurred in Sindh. Punjab has borne the brunt of the damage, with 144 deaths and 488 injuries reported. K-P followed with 63 fatalities and 79 injuries. Sindh recorded 25 deaths and 40 injuries, ...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday praised the World Bank for its support of Pakistan’s position on the Indus Waters Treaty, criticising India’s “unilateral and illegal” actions that he said undermine the landmark agreement. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which killed 26 people. India blamed Pakistan for the attack but provided no evidence. Islamabad strongly denied the allegations. On April 23, India closed the Wagah border crossing, revoked Pakistani visas, and announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. Pakistan condemned the move as an “act of war” and responded by sealing the Wagah border from its side. In a meeting with Ousmane Dione, World Bank Regional Vice President for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, Shehbaz reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to upholding international law, pursuing peaceful dialogue, and promoting regional prosper...

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Quetta on Wednesday granted a 10-day physical remand of accused Sardar Sherbaz Sakazai in the high-profile double murder case of a woman and a man, Express News reported. The case stems from a gruesome incident in the Degari area, three days before Eidul Azha, in which a woman and man were killed in public. The accused was presented before ATC No 1 in Quetta, where the court approved the police’s request for extended remand. The court directed his custody remain with the police’s Serious Crime Investigation Wing. The grisly video of the attack circulated on social media three days ago, prompting Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti to take notice, leading to multiple arrests. Read More: 14 suspects arrested over 'honour killing' of couple in Balochistan However, in a startling development, the victim’s mother, Gul Jan, claimed her daughter, Bano, had been punished under Baloch customary law. She said Bano had absconded with a man named Ehsan f...

The Lahore High Court (LHC) directed Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar on Wednesday to explain why, in Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) “encounters”, only the accused are struck by bullets while police vans and their inmates remain unharmed. The CTD has faced repeated accusations of “fake encounters”, in which suspects die under suspicious circumstances. Chief Justice Aalia Neelum issued the summons while hearing Farhat Bibi’s petition alleging her son, Ghazanfar Aslam, was killed in a “fake police encounter” on April 22. The petitioner sought protection for her other son, Ansar Aslam, who is detained in Sheikhupura jail. Her counsel told the court both Ghazanfar and Ansar were arrested by Sharaqpur Police. According to the CTD’s report, officers pulled up the suspects’ van because of a punctured tyre. The report claims that, as the team approached to investigate, the van’s occupants attacked the officers, who then opened fire, hitting only the suspects. Just...

TikTok removed nearly 25 million videos in Pakistan during the first quarter of 2025, according to its Q1 2025 Community Guidelines Enforcement Report, which covers activity from January to March. According to the report, a total of 24,954,128 videos were taken down in Pakistan for violating the platform’s community guidelines. The proactive removal rate in the country remained exceptionally high at 99.4 percent, with 95.8 percent of the flagged videos removed within 24 hours of being posted. Globally, TikTok removed approximately 211 million videos during the same period, which accounts for about 0.9 percent of all content uploaded to the platform. Of those, over 184 million were detected and removed through automated systems, while more than 7.5 million were reinstated following a secondary review.The proactive removal rate stood at 99.0%, with 94.3% of the flagged content removed within 24 hours of posting. Read: Senate introduces bill to ban social media accounts for under 16s The ...

Severe rains and flash floods have wreaked havoc in Gilgit-Baltistan, where 10 to 15 people have been reported missing after being swept away by floodwaters in the Babusar area, said Faizullah Firaq, spokesperson for the Gilgit-Baltistan government, on Wednesday.  The government has issued a strong advisory urging tourists to avoid traveling to the region for now. Speaking to a private news channel, Faizullah said that the torrential rains and flooding have caused significant loss to life and property. He confirmed that all tourists stranded on Babusar Road have been successfully rescued and are being provided free accommodation by local hotel owners and the government. Read: Monsoon mayhem claims 234 lives He added that all routes to Naran and Kaghan are currently closed, while the Karakoram Highway was blocked at two points, leaving scores of travelers stranded in different locations. However, the Silk Route remains open for small vehicles, and restoration work up to Bisham ...

Security forces have killed eight terrorists during two successive intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Balochistan’s Kalat district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Tuesday. According to the military’s media wing, the first operation was launched on July 19, targeting a location suspected of harbouring terrorists linked to the group. “During the operation, four terrorists were successfully neutralized,” the ISPR stated. Acting on intelligence gathered during the mission, a follow-up sanitization operation was carried out on July 21 in the surrounding areas. “Four more terrorists of Fitna al Hindustan were hunted down and sent to hell,” the ISPR added. Security personnel also discovered and dismantled a terrorist hideout during the course of the operations. A large cache of weapons, ammunition, and explosives was recovered from the site. Also Read: 200 stranded tourists rescued in G-B after flash floods “Security forces of Pakistan, in step with the nation, remain...

In a significant development for wildlife conservation in Pakistan, the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard, locally known as Bhakhar, has shown promising signs of population recovery in the Cholistan Desert, according to Punjab wildlife authorities. Wildlife experts estimate the global population of the Great Indian Bustard to be between 80 and 90, with approximately 30 to 35 believed to inhabit the Cholistan region of Pakistan. This fragile recovery is the result of enhanced conservation efforts, ongoing field monitoring, and the creation of a dedicated public wildlife reserve. “This bird is now restricted to the Cholistan Desert in Pakistan and Rajasthan in India,” confirmed Wildlife Conservator Syed Rizwan Mehmood. He documented rare video footage and photographs of the species during a recent field survey. “The sighting and documentation of its presence confirm its continued survival in Pakistan. It’s a major breakthrough.” Bahawalpur Deputy Chief Wildlife Ranger Syed Ali U...

Pakistan signed a pact with United Nations on Monday agreeing to conserve marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, the Foreign Office said.  Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar signed an Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) at the UN Headquarters in New York on Monday. “The signing of the BBNJ Agreement reflects on Pakistan’s continued commitment to multilateral cooperation and to the protection and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction,” read foreign ministry's post on X (formerly Twitter). Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, today signed the Agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Dive...

The Pakistan Meteorological Department’s (PMD) Warning Centre issued a three-day forecast for Karachi, predicting light rain showers during night and early morning hours. Skies are expected to remain cloudy, with maximum daytime temperatures ranging from 33°C and 35°C. Humidity levels may reach 80% percent in the morning, falling to around 65% by evening. Steady sea breezes will prevail along the coast line for coming days. As monsoon currents continue to move to other parts of Sindh, light rain or drizzle is also expected in the districts of Khairpur, Umerkot, Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal and Jamshoro Moreover, monsoon downpours are periodically lashing other parts of the country, including Islamabad and Rawalpindi. In the last 24 hours Islamabad recorded 184mm of rain, while Narowal and Muzaffarabad saw 62 mm each. Kotli received 57mm, Rawalpindi 54 mm and Murree 42 mm, emphasising the irregular but intense nature of this year’s monsoon. Moreover, the National D...

Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday issued contempt of court notices to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and members of his federal cabinet over non-compliance in the case concerning efforts for the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui. The court directed the federal government to submit a response within two weeks. A written order, authored by Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, noted a pattern of repeated executive defiance and interference in judicial functions. "Despite the court order, the federal government failed to submit reasons before the court," the IHC said. "The court has no option left but to issue a contempt of court notice to the federal government." Justice Ejaz remarked that the judiciary had been under persistent attack. “We have witnessed one attack after another on the pillars of justice. These attacks have repeatedly wounded the justice system and brought it to the verge of collapse.” He further stated, “today, yet another example of assault on the judiciary...

A local court in Islamabad on Monday issued arrest warrants for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in a case involving recovery of liquor and illegal weapons. The warrants were issued by Judicial Magistrate Mubashir Hassan Chishti after Gandapur failed to appear in court. The court dismissed his plea for exemption from personal appearance and directed authorities to arrest and produce him at the next hearing. The court adjourned the hearing until 22 July. Earlier on Saturday, the magistrate issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Gandapur and ordered the relevant station house officer (SHO) to ensure his production. Read: Gandapur to challenge governor’s oath-taking of 25 lawmakers on reserved seats During Friday’s proceedings, the magistrate noted that the case has remained pending for nearly eight years. Although the prosecution completed recording witness statements in May 2024, Gandapur has yet to submit his own statement under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure...

Sugar prices in Karachi have dropped significantly in the past week, with wholesale rates falling by Rs 10 to Rs 174 per kilogram. Retail prices range between Rs 180 and Rs 185 per kilogram in the city. Read: Sugar, power and patronage However, the sugar situation in Punjab is more complicated. The province is facing an ongoing sugar crisis, triggered by disputes among sugar mills, wholesalers, and brokers over the newly set official prices. The federal government has set the price of sugar at Rs 165 per kilogram for mills and Rs 173 for retail sales, but these prices have not been accepted by sugar dealers, who claim that mills are selling sugar at Rs 176 per kilogram. Read more: Deal falls flat as sugar prices stay high As a result, sugar suppliers in Punjab have suspended deliveries, causing the price to rise to Rs 200 per kilogram in some areas. Also read: Govt signs fresh sugar export deal Dealers have warned that the sugar supply will remain halted unless mills comp...