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Author: News Desk

  • Karachi court grants bail to Armaghan in call centre case

    Karachi court grants bail to Armaghan in call centre case

    A judicial magistrate in Karachi on Monday granted post-arrest bail to Armaghan Qureshi, the prime suspect in the Mustafa Amir murder case, in a matter linked to an illegal call centre and credit card data theft.


    On January 6, 2025, Mustafa Amir, 23, was kidnapped and murdered in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA), allegedly by his friends Armaghan and Sheraz. 


    According to the police, the victim’s body was thereafter put in his car’s trunk and set on fire in the Hub area of Balochistan.


    A final challan in the murder case was submitted against Armaghan in August 2025. In addition to several other cases, he was also named in a data theft case registered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on April 16, 2025.

    On Monday, Armaghan’s bail application was heard by Judicial Magistrate (South). Advocate Khurram Abbas, where his counsel said that the prosecution had not shown any incriminating evidence and that the investigation had already been completed last year.


    The defence maintained that there was no complainant or private witness against the suspect and no evidence linking him to the offence.


    After hearing arguments, the magistrate approved Armaghan’s bail plea against surety bonds of Rs100,000.

    Despite the relief, Armaghan will remain behind bars as he is still facing multiple other cases. 


    Apart from the murder charge, FIRs have also been registered against him over injuring police officials during a February shoot-out that led to his arrest, as well as cases related to the recovery of illegal imported weapons and money laundering.


    According to the FIA’s FIR, Armaghan was allegedly running an illegal call centre in DHA. The agency claimed the operation was involved in harassment, fraud, identity impersonation, cheating, spoofing, phishing and extortion.


    Reports quoted sources as saying that employees at the call centre were trained to pose as officials from international organisations to obtain sensitive information, including names, debit and credit card details and social security numbers.


    The FIA further alleged that illegal financial transactions were carried out on the instructions of Armaghan, who allegedly operated under the alias “Alex Boss”.


    Separately, in July 2025, the investigating officer of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) informed a judicial magistrate that Armaghan had rented two properties to establish call centres in Lahore and Islamabad following Amir’s murder.

  • Babar Azam is James Anderson’s favourite Pakistani cricketer

    Babar Azam is James Anderson’s favourite Pakistani cricketer

    England’s legendary fast bowler James Anderson has picked batsman Babar Azam as his favourite cricketer from Pakistan, surprising many by overlooking several former legends of the game.

    Anderson revealed his choice during a rapid-fire segment with a sports website, where he named his preferred players from different countries. 

    The 41-year-old, who recently retired as Test cricket’s most successful fast bowler with 704 wickets, also selected Shane Warne from Australia, Joe Root from England, Tim Southee from New Zealand, AB de Villiers from South Africa, and Virat Kohli from India.

    However, Anderson surprised many by choosing Babar Azam from Pakistan, overlooking several former legends like Younis Khan, Inzamam Ul Haq, Javed Minandad, Mohammad Yusuf and Saeed Anwar.

    Babar is currently represents Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League, where he has scored 129 runs in five matches with two half-centuries. He maintains a strike rate of 117.27 and an average of 32.25 in the tournament.

    The Pakistani star has accumulated over 15,000 runs across all international formats. His 4,429 runs in T20 internationals make him the leading run-scorer in the format’s history.

    Pakistan now turns its attention to the T20 World Cup 2026, which takes place in India and Sri Lanka in February. 

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have reportedly submitted a preliminary 20-member squad to the International Cricket Council (ICC) that includes Babar, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shadab Khan.

    Reports suggest former captain Mohammad Rizwan has been left out of the provisional squad, with head coach Mike Hesson favouring Usman Khan as wicketkeeper. 

    Shaheen earns a spot in the selection despite sustaining a knee injury, while Babar’s recent BBL performances have reportedly strengthened his case for inclusion.

  • Hania Aamir reacts to ‘Meri Zindagi Hai Tu’ OST playing at Bangladesh Premier League

    Hania Aamir reacts to ‘Meri Zindagi Hai Tu’ OST playing at Bangladesh Premier League

    Hania Aamir has reacted to her latest hit drama’s original soundtrack being played at a stadium in Bangladesh during the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

    The actor shared her reaction on Instagram stories as a video from a BPL match showing thousands of fans singing and cheering to the ‘Meri Zindagi Hai Tu’ OST, went viral.

    “ilysm [I love you so much],” Hania wrote while reposting the clip.

    This isn’t the first time that said OST has gained praise across borders as Indian actor Shehnaaz Gill also recently joined the trend by posting a video of herself dancing to the track.

    “Obsessed,” Gill wrote.

    The OST for the drama came as Asim Azhar teamed up with Sabri Sisters, ending up dominating Spotify’s top Pakistani songs chart last month. 

    The hit drama under Musaddiq Malek’s direction features Hania Aamir and Bilal Abbas Khan in lead roles, supported by Alyy Khan, Adnan Jaffar and Meher Jaffar.

  • Man confesses to killing woman, three children in Mai Kolachi

    Man confesses to killing woman, three children in Mai Kolachi

    Police have reached a breakthrough in the murder of a woman and her three children found near the railway crossing gate on Mai Kolachi bypass, with the prime suspect’s confessional statement now on record.


    Mansoor Hussain, the primary suspect, was taken into custody from the Lyari area, officials stated on Sunday.

    Mansoor ruthlessly killed the woman and her three children in a video confession, according to Keamari district police chief Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amjad Ahmed Sheikh.

    The suspect claims that on the day of the incident, he initially took the woman, Aneela, on a motorcycle to a remote location close to Mai Kolachi, where he killed her. 

    After that, he went back to Kharadar, took each child to the same spot, and killed them as well. 

    Additionally, Mansoor said that he had been in contact with Aneela for the past three years and claimed that she used black magic, amulet charms, taweez, and blackmail against him.

    Police further stated that the suspect had detailed knowledge of the remote Mai Kolachi area because he frequently went there with Aneela. 

    Investigations also revealed that he had recently rented a house for her using his identity card.

    SSP Amjad Ahmed Sheikh confirmed that the investigation is still going on, with legal proceedings being pursued based on the video confession and other evidence.


    The four bodies, initially found dumped in a manhole near Mai Kolachi Road railway crossing on Friday night, were identified as Aneela, her 13-year-old daughter Kishwar Zahra, and her sons, 15-year-old Hussain Ali and 10-year-old Konain Ali.

    The bodies were later identified by Aneela’s brother. The family, who lived in Kharadar, had gone missing on December 30.

    Police registered a murder case under Section 302/34 (which deals with murder (intentional killing) and its punishment (death, life imprisonment, or lesser sentence), while Section 34 PPC covers “Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention,” making all participants liable for the crime’s result, even if only one inflicted the fatal blow, with penalties aligned to the main offence) of the Pakistan Penal Code against unknown suspects, with the state as the complainant. 

    Acting Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) District Keamari, Mahzooz Ali, confirmed the identities of the deceased.

    Post-mortems were prompted by the horrific revelation. Dr. Summaiya Syed, a police surgeon, attested to the fact that samples from the bodies were submitted to a laboratory to determine the precise cause of death, including testing for intoxicants and potential sexual assault.

    The examinations revealed severe injuries: 15-year-old Hussain Ali had multiple head, face, and neck injuries; 10-year-old Konain Ali’s throat was slit; Kishwar suffered similar head and facial trauma; and Aneela had skull and facial injuries.

  • Oil falls as markets downplay impact of Venezuela crisis

    Oil falls as markets downplay impact of Venezuela crisis

    Oil prices dipped on Monday as ample global supply outweighed concerns over potential disruptions following the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during a bold weekend raid.

    Brent crude fell 50 cents, or 0.8 percent, to $60.26 a barrel by 0752 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate slipped 53 cents, or 0.9 percent, to $56.79 a barrel.


    Markets were volatile in early Asian trading as investors assessed the political turmoil in Venezuela, a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and its potential impact on oil production.


    President Donald Trump said Washington DC would take control of the country and confirmed that the U.S. embargo on Venezuelan oil remained in place after Maduro was detained in New York on Sunday.

    Analysts, however, suggested that with global oil supplies abundant, any short-term disruption to Venezuela’s exports would have limited effect on prices.

    According to Kazuhiko Fuji, a consulting fellow at Japan’s Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry, Venezuela’s oil infrastructure has not been impacted by U.S. strikes. 

    “Even if Venezuelan exports are temporarily disrupted, over 80 percent are destined for China, which has built up ample reserves, and alternative sourcing is unlikely to strain the market,” Fuji said.


    Despite Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores being detained, top officials in his government have called the arrests a kidnapping and remain in control, pledging loyalty to the president. 

    Analysts cautioned, however, that a regime change could suppress prices.


    Venezuelan production could climb by a few hundred thousand barrels per day by the end of 2026, but further gains would require significant investment, according to Raymond James analysts.

     UBS strategist Giovanni Staunovo added, “Any meaningful recovery in Venezuelan output is likely to take considerable time.”


    Trump indicated on Sunday that a second military strike on Venezuela was possible if remaining officials did not cooperate with U.S. efforts to “fix” the country.

    Helima Croft, head of commodities research at RBC Capital, said, “All bets are off in a chaotic change-of-power scenario like what we saw in Libya or Iraq.”

    The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, collectively known as OPEC+, decided on Sunday to maintain their output. It announced that current production levels would remain unchanged.


    Trump also hinted at possible further U.S. interventions in Latin America, suggesting that Colombia and Mexico could face military action if they fail to curb the flow of illicit drugs into the United States.

    Analysts are also closely monitoring developments in Iran, another OPEC producer, after Trump warned of possible U.S. intervention in the country’s crackdown on protests, adding to broader geopolitical tensions.

  • PSX extends New Year rally with record high over 183,000 points

    PSX extends New Year rally with record high over 183,000 points

    The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) surged on Monday, extending its New Year rally as investors poured liquidity into asset-allocation flows amid easing macroeconomic signals.

    As per the details, the benchmark KSE-100 Index added nearly 9,000 points across the first three sessions of 2026, climbing to an intraday high of 183,964.37, gaining 4,929.44 points (2.75%) from Friday’s close of 179,034.93.

    The session’s low was 179,535.46, still up 500.53 points (0.28%) and the day’s peak marked a fresh all-time intraday high.

    “Overall positive start of the year is witnessed as investors pour in massive liquidity to target year asset allocation,” said independent analyst AAH Soomro, cautioning that the market may be “going too fast too soon”.

    Brokerage research flagged a constructive near-term setup. AKD Research projected sentiment would strengthen on expectations of foreign portfolio and direct investment inflows. Analysts suggested the KSE-100 could extend its uptrend towards 263,800 by December 2026, supported by easing monetary conditions, improving external accounts and reform momentum.

    The rally follows last week’s 6,634-point (3.8%) advance to a record 179,035, aided by a softer-than-expected December 2025 Consumer Price Index (CPI) at 5.6%, reinforcing expectations of further monetary easing.

  • Massive terror attack thwarted in Karachi, 60 explosive drums seized

    Massive terror attack thwarted in Karachi, 60 explosive drums seized

    Karachi narrowly avoided a large-scale terrorist attack after security agencies carried out an intelligence-based operation in the port city.


    A residence in Baldia Rais Goth, where terrorists had been planning attacks on public areas throughout Karachi, was found to have more than two tonnes of explosive material. During the operation, authorities apprehended a suicide bomber and confiscated a small truck and gas cylinders that were supposed to be used in the planned strikes.


    Officials said the explosives and cylinders had been packed in drums for transportation across the city. In total, 60 drums and five gas cylinders were recovered. The bomb disposal squad neutralized the explosives.

    Security sources confirmed that actionable intelligence about the planned attacks had been received earlier, prompting continuous monitoring of terrorist movements and hideouts in Karachi and nearby areas. 

    Intelligence reports had highlighted suspicious activity within a 30 to 40-kilometre radius, which led to intensified surveillance and coordinated operations.

    Investigations revealed that the arrested individuals were linked to the banned  Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) Bashir Zeb group, also referred to by authorities as Fitna-e-Hindustan. Sources said facilitators and handlers associated with the group have been operating from Afghan soil to plan and support attacks targeting Karachi.

    Information obtained from the arrested suicide bomber is being used to trace additional handlers and facilitators involved in the network. Authorities indicated that further arrests are expected as operations continue in the city.


    What could have been a catastrophic tragedy in Karachi was avoided, security authorities have confirmed.

  • Another student attempts su*cide at University of Lahore; was on call before jumping off second floor

    Another student attempts su*cide at University of Lahore; was on call before jumping off second floor

    Another student at the University of Lahore (UoL) has attempted suicide, sustaining serious injuries after jumping from the second floor of a campus building, police confirmed on Monday.

    According to Lahore Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations Faisal Kamran, the woman is a first-semester pharmacy student and hails from Narowal.

    Her parents have been asked to come to Lahore, DIG Kamran said.

    “She jumped from the second floor of the pharmacy department,” the cop said, adding that the incident appeared to be a suicide attempt.

    While police are working to determine the reason behind the attempt, initial findings revealed she had been talking to someone on the phone for half an hour before the incident.

    “She jumped during the call,” he said.

    On her injuries, DIG Kamran said the woman had fractured her legs but there was no severe head injury.

    Meanwhile, the student’s mobile phone is with the police but remains locked.

    The cop said that she would be asked for the password once her medical condition allowed. “Otherwise, we will get an analysis conducted.”

    While an FIR [First Information Report] has not yet been registered as the decision rests with the student’s parents, the university has suspended on-campus classes.

    In a notice issued by the registrar’s office, the varsity said all on-campus teaching activities had been suspended to ensure student safety. The notice added that classes would shift to online mode from Tuesday, January 6, until further orders.

    DIG Kamran also said that police had spoken to the varsity administration that is mulling the installation of fences on every floor to prevent such incidents.

    It merits a mention that this is the second incident of its kind at UoL where another pharmacy student, namely Muhammad Awais, died in December 2025 after jumping off a varsity building.

    Family and fellow students claimed that Awais was under extreme pressure due to low attendance and financial troubles. 

    The death had prompted the university to form an inquiry committee as students staged protests and demanded accountability.

  • UN to debate legality of President Maduro’s capture by US

    UN to debate legality of President Maduro’s capture by US

    The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will convene Monday to examine the legality of the United States’ (US) dramatic capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, though Washington is unlikely to face strong condemnation from its allies.

    US Special Forces seized Maduro in Caracas on Saturday in a raid that knocked out power in parts of the capital and struck military installations. Venezuelan officials reported casualties during the operation. Maduro, 63, was flown to New York and is being held in detention ahead of a court appearance on drug charges.

    Russia, China, and other Venezuelan allies have accused Washington of violating international law. However, many US allies – long opposed to Maduro’s rule – have refrained from directly criticizing the military action.

    “Judging by the reactions from European leaders to date, I suspect that US allies will equivocate exquisitely in the Security Council,” Reuters quoted Richard Gowan, director of global issues at the International Crisis Group, as saying.

    UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the operation set “a dangerous precedent.” Legal experts echoed that view, arguing the raid lacked authorization from the Security Council, did not have Venezuelan consent, and failed to meet the threshold of self-defense under international law.

    US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz cited Article 51 of the UN Charter, which affirms the right to self-defense if a member state suffers an armed attack. He described Maduro as “a drug kingpin, an illegitimate leader indicted in the United States, coordinating with China, Russia, Iran, and terrorist groups like Hezbollah.”

    Yet scholars rejected that justification. “Even if Maduro were responsible for smuggling drugs into the US, such smuggling does not constitute an armed attack,” said Milena Sterio, professor at Cleveland State University College of Law. Adil Haque of Rutgers Law School added that the capture “was an illegal infringement of the inviolability and immunity of a sitting Head of State.”

    The Cuban government announced that 32 of its citizens, including members of its armed forces and intelligence services, were killed during the raid. Havana declared two days of mourning, praising those who “fulfilled their duty with dignity and heroism” in resisting the attack.

    Maduro was indicted in 2020 on US charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, allegations he has consistently denied. While critics argue Washington violated international law, the US holds veto power at the Security Council, shielding it from formal accountability.

  • Bangladesh bans IPL broadcast amid rising tensions

    Bangladesh bans IPL broadcast amid rising tensions

    Amid growing tensions and Indian cricketing authorities’ prejudiced behaviour towards Bangladeshi players, the country has imposed an indefinite ban on the broadcast of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

    According to reports, the Bangladesh government confirmed that the IPL telecast ban would remain in effect for an unspecified period with no review date announced.

    Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul said the government fully backed the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) stance.

    Earlier, Nazr also announced the country’s decision to not send its national team to India for the Twenty20 World Cup over player safety concerns.

    The board was instructed to formally request the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift Bangladesh’s World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka.

    The decision followed Mustafizur Rahman’s sudden release from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) amid threats from Hindu hardliners. KKR had bought the left-arm pacer for 9.2 crore Indian rupees at the IPL auction in Abu Dhabi last month.

    Bangladesh were scheduled to play three matches in Kolkata during the tournament, which is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. 

    The ICC is yet to respond to Bangladesh’s request.