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Author: News Desk

  • ‘Pride Match’ at 2026 World Cup to be played between Egypt, Iran where homosexuality is illegal

    ‘Pride Match’ at 2026 World Cup to be played between Egypt, Iran where homosexuality is illegal

    Seattle’s local organising committee has confirmed it will go ahead with hosting a LGBTQ+ ‘Pride Match’ at the 2026 World Cup, BBC reported.

    According to the report, the fixture will feature Egypt and Iran – two countries where homosexuality is illegal and carries severe punishments.

    The committee announced earlier that the June 26 match at Lumen Field would celebrate the LGBTQ+ community as part of Seattle’s official Pride weekend. 

    However, organisers made the decision before knowing which teams would play in the fixture.

    Friday’s World Cup draw and Saturday’s fixture allocation revealed that Egypt will face Iran in this Group G match. 

    Iranian law permits the death penalty as the harshest punishment for same-sex relations while Egyptian authorities regularly deploy morality laws to restrict LGBTQ+ rights and relationships.

    The local committee runs this event independently without any FIFA involvement.

    Organisers have invited artists across Washington state to create artwork celebrating LGBTQ+ people, which will appear around the stadium and throughout the city during the match.

    The Seattle Pride Match Advisory Committee, which organisers established specifically for this event, insists the celebration will continue as scheduled.

    “The Pride Match has been scheduled to celebrate and elevate Pride events in Seattle and across the country, and it was planned well in advance. Soccer has a unique power to unite people across borders, cultures, and beliefs. We are honoured to host a Pride Match and to celebrate Pride as part of a global football community. This match reflects our ongoing commitment to respect, dignity, and unity for all,” a spokesperson was quoted as saying.

    It may be noted that similar controversies have emerged at previous World Cups.

    During the 2022 tournament in Qatar, where laws also criminalise same-sex relationships, FIFA threatened yellow cards for any player wearing the OneLove armband supporting LGBTQ+ rights.

    Several teams, including England and Wales, had originally planned to wear the armband but abandoned the idea after FIFA issued its warning.

  • Security on high alert in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan after 12 RAW-linked terrorists arrested

    Security on high alert in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan after 12 RAW-linked terrorists arrested

    In light of the prevailing security situation, Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar has directed immediate sweep and combing operations in major cities, including Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan.

    In a statement, Dr Anwar said that all Senior District Police Officers (SDPOs) and Station House Officers (SHOs) will participate in the operations alongside the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and other sensitive agencies.

    He emphasised that security at educational institutions would be tightened further with CCTV cameras installed at entry and exit points, deployment of security guards and arrangements for emergency evacuation to be ensured.

    The IGP also ordered profiling and data verification of individuals entering the province.

    The statement comes a day after Punjab CTD said it had arrested 12 suspected terrorists allegedly working for the Indian intelligence agency Research Analysis Wing (RAW) in intelligence-based operations conducted in Lahore, Faisalabad and Bahawalpur.

    According to a statement issued by a CTD spokesperson, the arrests were made in collaboration with security agencies.

    The spokesperson said security personnel recovered photos, videos, weapons and explosives from the suspects, preventing large-scale terrorism activities in the aforementioned cities.

    They said the recovered material reportedly also included images and video recordings of sensitive locations, including a religious seminary.

    The spokesperson said the terrorists were planning to incite “fear and religious hatred” in the province and had plans to target “places of worship and other important sites”.

    They said that arrests came after the CTD investigated a Facebook account allegedly being operated from India to coordinate terrorist activities.

    All of these terrorists were being funded by the Indian agency RAW, the CTD spokesperson said.

    “Seven improvised explosive devices, two detonators, 102 feet of safety fuse wire, explosives, weapons, mobile phones and cash were recovered from the possession of the terrorists.”

  • Rana Sanaullah says PTI repeating India’s narrative

    Rana Sanaullah says PTI repeating India’s narrative

    Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Rana Sanaullah has stated that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is unwilling to participate in discussions, alleging that Imran Khan has restricted party members from negotiating. 

    He mentioned that the government made numerous attempts to open communications for conversations with PTI, but there was no reaction from the party. He believes that if PTI had accepted the prime minister’s invitation for talks, the political climate in the country could have calmed down.

    Rana Sana said “Imran Khan and PTI leaders are repeating the same narrative that India is giving”. He noted that this narrative was being echoed in public statements and was influencing the party’s current political stance.

    He alleged that a large fraction of PTI’s leadership no longer aligned with the direction set forth by the party founder. “Approximately 80 percent of PTI members presently do not agree with Imran Khan’s policies and political strategy,” he commented.

    In a separate interview on a private news channel, Rana Sanaullah referred to remarks made during a recent rally, suggesting those comments would be noted by the relevant authorities, and they would do so decisively. He indicated that the individuals  passing the statements were pushing themselves towards repercussions for their actions. “The majority of PTI will not partake in this insanity,” he predicted. 

    Rana Sana indicated that potential for a treason case against Imran Khan could not be dismissed. He expressed that the situation might progress toward legal procedures that would define the political future of the PTI founder. He suggested that Imran Khan’s journey might parallel that of the MQM and its founder Altaf Hussain. 

    He remarked that the rifts within PTI were becoming increasingly apparent and noted that, in his opinion, the distinction between what he termed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and “Adiala Tehreek-e-Insaf” would soon be evident. He mentioned that these discrepancies were emerging in light of recent political events and reactions from party members who no longer agreed with the existing strategy.

  • Karachi police confirm triple homicide at Gulshan apartment

    Karachi police confirm triple homicide at Gulshan apartment

    Karachi police have confirmed that the deaths of three women inside a Gulshan-i-Iqbal apartment were a homicide, and a murder case against unknown person(s) has been registered.

    On Sunday, Samina, 52, her 19-year-old daughter Samreen, and her 22-year-old daughter-in-law Maha were found dead. Muhammad Yaseen, Samina’s son, was taken to the hospital after being found unconscious at the scene. 

    Station House Officer (SHO) concerned Mohammed Naeem Rajput said that police have started a thorough investigation and filed a case under Section 302 (premeditated murder) on behalf of the state.

    Yaseen has since recovered consciousness, but investigators have not been able to record his statement since he is “not cooperating”, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) East Zubair Nazir Ahmed Shaikh said.

    Police have some clues, the SSP added, but it is too soon to reveal any specifics to the public. 

    Additionally, he affirmed that Yaseen’s father, Muhammad Iqbal, was the one who first reported the bodies and that both father and son remain under close observation. 

    According to police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed, Maha’s body showed partial decomposition, suggesting that the victims passed away at different times – a key factor strengthening investigators’ suspicion of murder.

    SSP Shaikh had on Sunday already ruled out gas leakage as the cause of death, noting there were no signs of forced entry, strangulation or visible injuries, further deepening the mystery around the case as inquiries continue.

  • Adil Raja, Shahzad Akbar could soon be sent back to Pakistan

    Adil Raja, Shahzad Akbar could soon be sent back to Pakistan

    YouTuber and self-proclaimed political and defence expert Adil Raja, as well as ousted premier Imran Khan’s accountability aide Shahzad Akbar, could soon be extradited to Pakistan, it has emerged.

    As per the details, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday visited the British Home Office in London where he met with officials to reiterate request for the extradition of individuals wanted by Pakistan.

    During the meeting, the Pakistani government presented a detailed dossier supporting its request, reports quoted officials as saying.

    Pakistani High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), Dr Mohammad Faisal, accompanied the interior minister during the visit that comes days after Naqvi also met UK High Commissioner Jane Marriott and handed her over the extradition papers for Raja and Akbar.

    The meeting on Thursday had come three days after Naqvi announced a crackdown on those involved in fake news, declaring that the government would repatriate from the UK YouTubers involved in this activity or the targeting of state institutions.

    Currently, no formal extradition treaty exists between Pakistan and the UK, though Section 194 of the UK Extradition Act 2003 contains provisions for special “ad hoc” extradition arrangements.

    According to a statement released by the interior ministry, Naqvi held an “important” meeting with Marriott in Islamabad, where the two discussed Pak-UK relations, security cooperation and issues of mutual interest.

    They also discussed the return of Pakistanis illegally residing in the UK, it added.

    “The extradition papers for Akbar and Raja from the government of Pakistan were handed over [to Marriott],” the statement said, adding that both individuals are wanted in Pakistan and should be handed over to Pakistan immediately.

    He also provided evidence against Pakistani citizens who were spreading propaganda, the statement said.

    “I fully believe in freedom of expression, but fake news is a problem for every country,” he said, as per the statement.

    “No country can allow slander and defamation against state institutions from those sitting abroad,” the minister said. Naqvi also said that Pakistan would welcome British cooperation for the return of those who “spread anti-Pakistan propaganda”.

    The statement further said that the interior ministry had initiated the extradition process through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  • Did Wasim Akram just take a dig at IPL, BBL?

    Did Wasim Akram just take a dig at IPL, BBL?

    Former Pakistan cricket captain and legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram has taken a humourous jab at the months-long T20 cricketing leagues, praising the shorter format of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

    Speaking at the PSL’s historic roadshow at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on Monday, Akram highlighted the league’s efficient scheduling as one of its key strengths. 

    “The best thing about PSL is that it lasts for 34 days or a bit more next year. It’s not three months long like other leagues,” he said. 

    “Bachay bade ho jate hai, woh league khatam hi nahi hoti [kids grow up but the league doesn’t end],” he remarked, in an apparent reference to the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Big Bash.

    He explained that foreign players prefer shorter commitments when playing in leagues.

    “At least foreign players, when they come to Pakistan, to any league, they prefer to be there for 35 to 40 days. More than that, two and a half, three months is a bit too long for everyone. I mean, even I get bored watching league cricket for three months,” he said.

    He cited the Big Bash League as a prime example of leagues realising the drawbacks of extended formats.

    “It started out for three months, two and a half months, and now they realized after about four, five years, it’s not working. And now their period, I think now their time is about 40 days. About 40 days, 10 games each, six teams and finish off,” he added.

    Akram also addressed team owners directly, urging them to stop questioning coaches after match defeats. 

    “Owners often approach coaches immediately after losses and ask why they lost the match. This question has no clear answer because cricket is a sport where sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.”

    Several former and current cricketers attended the event, including Wasim Akram, Ramiz Raja, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan. 

    PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, global investors and commercial partners also joined the roadshow.

  • Pakistan to get $64.9m from UN’s $33bn global aid plan

    Pakistan to get $64.9m from UN’s $33bn global aid plan

    The United Nations and its partners on Monday unveiled their 2026 global humanitarian appeal, setting aside $64.9 million specifically for Pakistan to support 1.9 million vulnerable people. 

    The allocation is part of a massive $33 billion plan designed to protect communities affected by wars, climate disasters, disease outbreaks, earthquakes and crop failures across the world.

    The immediate objective is to raise $23 billion to give 87 million people life-saving aid, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).

     The global appeal, known as the ‘2026 Response Plan’ with the theme “Life by Life,” intends to reach 135 million people over the course of the year through six refugee and migrant response plans and 23 nation operations.

    98 million people still received aid in 2025, according to UNOCHA, despite a lack of funds and an increase in attacks on aid workers.


    The largest individual appeal for 2026 is for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, where the UN estimates that $4.1 billion is needed to help three million people who are dealing with previously unheard-of levels of violence and devastation.

    The greatest regional plan covers Syria, which requires $2.8 billion to help 8.6 million people, while Sudan, which has the biggest displacement disaster in the world, needs $2.9 billion for approximately 20 million people.

    The UN emphasized that there were significant financial setbacks in 2025, with the $12 billion raised being the lowest amount in ten years. Consequently, compared to 2024, 25 million fewer people were reached.

    The effects have been catastrophic: millions of people have been left without financial support, protective services, or even basic housing, health institutions have disintegrated under pressure, hunger has increased, and mine-clearing activities have stagnated. Throughout the year, around 320 relief workers the majority of whom were local employees were killed. 

    The new appeal, according to UN Humanitarian Chief Tom Fletcher, focuses on allocating resources “life by life” and transforming humanitarian efforts to be more effective and locally driven.

    “We’re shifting power to local organisations, directing more funding straight to communities, and reimagining humanitarian action with idealism and hope,” he added.

  • ICC faces major setback as Jio Star pulls out of India broadcast deal

    ICC faces major setback as Jio Star pulls out of India broadcast deal

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) faces a major financial crisis after Jio Star reportedly informed the organization that it cannot continue with the remaining two years of its broadcast rights contract for ICC events in India. 

    According to media reports, Jio Star incurred heavy financial losses under the current four-year agreement.

    Reports say Jio Star’s early withdrawal has left the 2024-27 rights cycle incomplete, raising questions about how future ICC events will air or stream in India, particularly the T20 World Cup 2026, which India will host.

    In response to the crisis, ICC has launched a fresh sales process for the 2026-29 broadcast rights with expectations to generate approximately $2.4 billion. 

    The global body has reportedly contacted several major platforms including Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI), Netflix and Amazon Prime, but no platform currently wants to sign an expensive deal. 

    The report also reveals that Jio Star has increased its estimated potential losses in sports contracts for 2024-25 from PKR12,319 crore to PKR25,760 crore, highlighting the severe financial pressure from long-term expensive broadcast agreements.

    Reports added that the situation points to a major structural challenge in India’s sports broadcasting industry, where advertising revenue and subscription numbers cannot match the expenses of costly cricket event broadcast rights. 

    This explains why even strong broadcasters like Jio Star now adopt a cautious approach toward long-term sports deals.

    Experts say this development could also affect the pricing of Indian Premier League (IPL) broadcast deals in the future.

  • Punjab admission policy ignores PM’s 15 percent overseas quota order

    Punjab admission policy ignores PM’s 15 percent overseas quota order

    The Punjab government has not raised the number of seats allocated for the children of overseas Pakistanis in public medical and dental colleges, despite a prior commitment from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

     In April, the prime minister announced that 15 percent of medical college seats across the country would be set aside for the children of expatriates, allowing over 3,000 students to access medical education in Pakistan.

    Currently, only 66 seats in a total of 20 government medical and dental colleges in Punjab are designated for overseas Pakistanis, which constitutes less than two percent of the overall seats. The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) informed the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis that it had acted on the prime minister’s directive and relayed this information to relevant parties.

    However, the Punjab government’s admission policy for 2025–26 does not indicate the promised increase. The policy, announced in October, has also eliminated free education for overseas Pakistani students in government institutions.

     According to revised regulations, students applying under the overseas quota are now required to pay an annual fee of US$10,000. Punjab’s public sector medical and dental colleges currently offer a total of 3,379 seats, which include 3,121 for MBBS and 258 for BDS programs.

    A representative from the University of Health Sciences (UHS) stated that the prime minister’s directive pertains only to private medical colleges, where the PMDC has historically implemented a 15 percent quota. Private colleges charge substantial fees, approximately Rs2.5 million annually, which has deterred many overseas Pakistanis from submitting applications. Unfilled seats are frequently converted to open merit.

    Overseas Pakistanis express that their primary concern lies within the public sector, where they are prepared to pay the US$10,000 fee if the quota is expanded to 15 percent. Increasing the quota would raise the number of designated seats in Punjab’s government colleges from 66 to about 500.

    Officials indicate that the provincial government is hesitant to increase the quota due to the burden on state-run medical colleges, which are already struggling to uphold academic standards. 

    An overseas Pakistani dismissed the UHS’s assertion, pointing out that the PMDC’s letter dated May 23 did not limit the 15 percent quota to private colleges. The correspondence clarifies that Pakistani citizens living abroad, including those holding Green Cards and Iqama, who have finished their intermediate or equivalent education inside or outside of Pakistan, qualify for the 15 percent foreign seats in both public and private medical and dental institutions.

  • UN urges Taliban to let Afghan women return to work

    UN urges Taliban to let Afghan women return to work

    The United Nations (UN) has urged Taliban authorities in Afghanistan to lift their ban on women working at UN offices, warning that the restriction is putting “life-saving services” at risk.

    Afghan women have experienced numerous restrictions since the Taliban took control in 2021, including restrictions on a majority of jobs, school attendance beyond the age of 12 and going to public places like parks and beauty salons.

    In September, the Taliban began barring female UN staffers from entering office premises.

    “We call for the ban on Afghan women staff and contractors from entering United Nations premises to be reversed, and for their safe access to offices and the field,” said UN Women Special Representative in Afghanistan Susan Ferguson.

    Ferguson emphasised the broader consequences of the restriction, pointing out that “the longer these restrictions remain in place, the greater the risk to these life-saving services” and emphasising that the actions go against the UN’s commitment to equality and human rights.

    Reports quoted sources as claiming that several hundred employees were currently impacted despite the UN not disclosing the precise number of women affected. 

    According to Ferguson, these women have been working remotely for the last three months, helping Afghan migrants deported from Pakistan and Iran as well as victims of recent fatal earthquakes.

    Describing their contributions as “indispensable”, Ferguson said, “Only through their presence can we reach women and girls safely and provide culturally appropriate assistance.”

    While the Taliban authorities did not immediately comment on the matter, the UN refugee agency halted financial aid for Afghan returnees in September of last year, citing difficulties in interviewing and gathering data on more than half of the female returnees.