Category: National

Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Asim Munir once linked Pakistan’s recent measures towards Afghanistan to a video showing an Afghan trader burning Pakistani currency in Kabul, journalist Sumaira Khan has claimed. 

Recounting a discussion she held with the head of the army, Khan said in an interview with a private media outlet that the Field Marshal referred to a video sent to him in which an Afghan trader was seen setting Pakistani currency, locally referred to as “Kaaldar” on fire while speaking in Pashto. 

She said a translation of the clip indicated the trader was claiming the Afghan currency was not even equal to the dust of Pakistani currency.

“’Then I took this decision. I told my Corps Commanders that the life of one Pakistani is worth more than the entire case of Afghanistan,” she quoted him as saying.

Khan said he described the move as part of a broader set of measures introduced since 2023, including Afghan refugee repatriation and anti-smuggling actions.

“I spent a lot of time on this. I also showed respect and always considered Afghanistan a brotherly country,” he was quoted as saying.

He added that despite the measures, the approach has remained consistent at the institutional level.

“Since 2023, when we started all the measures for hardening of the state, Pakistan’s policy has not changed,” Sumaira quoted him as saying, adding that “it doesn’t matter who is in charge at the top” as the institution continues its policy.

Pakistan-Afghanistan ties have remained strained in recent years, with Islamabad repeatedly raising concerns over cross-border terrorism and security issues. 

The remarks also come in the backdrop of ongoing enforcement actions, including Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq, which authorities have linked to efforts aimed at addressing security challenges and tightening control measures.

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has issued notices to Lady Willingdon Hospital in Lahore and to doctors reportedly involved in recording patients during surgical procedures.

The move follows circulation of a video allegedly filmed inside an operating theatre, which showed medical staff engaged in unprofessional conduct, recording videos while patients underwent surgeries.

The incident prompted questions about patient confidentiality and compliance with medical ethics.

Recording patients without consent, particularly in operating theatres or other sensitive clinical settings, is considered a breach of professional ethics and may violate patient rights and confidentiality standards, the council stated.

PMDC President Dr Rizwan Taj said that the council considers such conduct unacceptable and will take action under the applicable regulatory framework.

He said that the council requested full details regarding the doctors involved, whether consent was obtained, and what disciplinary steps the hospital has taken.

He also emphasised that the council is responsible for safeguarding patient rights, ensuring ethical medical practice, and maintaining public trust in the healthcare system.

Deputy Prime Minister (PM) and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday left for a one-day visit to China, a trip taking place as discussions circulate around Pakistan’s potential role in facilitating peace between Iran and the United States (US).

The Foreign Office said Dar is visiting Beijing at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for “in-depth discussions on regional developments”, adding that both sides will review bilateral ties and broader regional and global issues under their “all-weather strategic cooperative partnership”.

The timing of the visit has drawn attention amid emerging commentary suggesting that Islamabad could be part of broader diplomatic efforts linked to a possible Iran–US dialogue framework.

Vali Nasr, an Iranian-American academic and political scientist, wrote on X that Iran has asked for guarantees in any deal with US.

“Word is that Pakistan Foreign Minister is going to Beijing to get a guarantor for the potential deal. Likely that is Iran’s condition for talks with US. And FM would not be going to China without having floated the idea with both Washington and Beijing. No guarantees of China biting but Beijing is now the frontline in the diplomatic effort,” he said.

In response, journalist Azaz Syed also posted on X that, “Your assessment matches the information I’m receiving from Islamabad. Soon after the quadrilateral meeting ended, Pakistani President @AAliZardari visited the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad without any public announcement.”

“I later heard similar chatter and discussed it on my show Talk Shock, uploaded on YouTube two hours before your tweet. We’re clearly on the same page, even while working from different parts of the world. Respect for your contributions,” he wrote.

Dar is expected to remain in China for only a few hours and is likely to continue consultations linked to recent high-level engagements, including his telephone conversation with Wang Yi last week.

The visit follows Pakistan’s recent diplomatic outreach, including a four-country meeting hosted in Islamabad with Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt, where foreign ministers called for de-escalation and supported efforts to create conditions for structured negotiations between Washington DC and Tehran.

A weather system moving in from the west is expected to bring rains and thunderstorms across Pakistan from April 1 to 4, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has said.

In an advisory issued on Monday, the Met Office stated that a westerly wave will enter southwestern Balochistan on April 1 and gradually extend to other parts of the country over the following days.

“Balochistan will be the first to bear the brunt of the system, with rain, thunderstorms, and isolated hailstorms anticipated from the evening of April 1 across a sweeping stretch of districts from coastal areas including Gwadar, Pasni, and Ormara inland through Quetta, Ziarat, Loralai, Zhob, Khuzdar, and dozens of other regions, continuing through April 4 with occasional breaks,” it said.

The department noted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is likely to experience rain and thunderstorms from the night of April 1, affecting areas from Chitral, Dir and Swat to Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan and Waziristan.

It added that snowfall is expected over higher elevations, while some areas may also experience hailstorms and heavy downpours.

Punjab and Islamabad are also expected to come under the influence of the system from the night of April 1, with thunderstorms and hailstorms forecast in areas including Murree, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Multan, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan. Dera Ghazi Khan and nearby areas may also receive heavy rainfall.

Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir are likely to receive rain and snowfall over mountainous areas, with districts such as Hunza, Gilgit, Skardu, Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley and Mirpur expected to be affected.

Sindh is expected to experience the system later, with rain, thunderstorms and isolated hailstorms forecast in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Larkana from April 2 to 4.

The Met Office warned that flash flooding may occur in northeast Balochistan and in local streams across KP between April 2 and 4, while hill torrents are expected in Dera Ghazi Khan.

“Windstorms and lightning may damage weak structures, electricity infrastructure, billboards, and solar panels, while standing crops in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh are at risk from hail and strong winds,” it added.

Farmers have been advised to take precautionary measures in line with the expected weather conditions.

The advisory further noted that daytime temperatures are likely to drop across the country during this period.

The Met Office urged the public, tourists and travellers to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary travel during the forecast window.

“All concerned authorities have been formally directed to remain vigilant and take all necessary measures to prevent any untoward situation during the forecast period,” the PMD stated.

The federal Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB) has rejected a notification circulating on social media claiming that a nationwide weekend lockdown will be imposed in the country, stating that the document is fake.

In a post on its official fact-check account on X, the ministry stated that the viral notification was “fake” and urged users not to spread misinformation.

“Avoid sharing fake news and false posts. Be a responsible citizen and only trust verified sources,” the post read. 

The undated document falsely attributed instructions to Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, claiming a lockdown was being imposed due to a “continuing Gulf oil crisis”.

It stated that a “complete and comprehensive lockdown throughout the country” would be enforced every Saturday and Sunday starting April 5.

“The lockdown shall take effect every Saturday from 12:01am and continue till 11:59pm every Sunday,” the document read.

No such notification has been issued by the government.

However, officials indicated that a plan related to energy conservation is under consideration, which may include a nationwide smart lockdown and other measures, though no decision has been announced.

Under the proposal, markets and shopping malls may close at 9:30pm, while wedding halls could be limited to 200 guests with a one-dish policy and a 10pm closing time.

A 50 percent rota system is also under consideration, along with digital attendance monitoring and weekly audits. Similar arrangements may apply to private offices, including up to 50 percent remote working.

Measures being reviewed also include restricting the use of air conditioners in government offices before 10:30am and shifting public sector buildings to solar energy within 60 days.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had announced austerity steps following a fuel shortage linked to tensions in the Middle East after attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran.

The measures included a four-day work week, work-from-home policy, and a 50 percent cut in fuel allocation for government vehicles.

Cabinet members, advisers and special assistants were directed not to draw salaries for two months, while salaries of members of parliament were reduced by 25 percent. Expenditures of government departments, excluding salaries, were also cut by 20 percent.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has seen terrorism incidents fall by 65 percent since the launch of Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq, an official document has revealed.

Data showed that 240 incidents were reported in the province before the operation, while only 80 have been recorded since its launch.

According to the document, the highest number of incidents, 48, this year was reported in the ninth week. After the launch of the operation, the number dropped to 12 in the twelfth week.

It added that 42 incidents were reported in the tenth week and 29 in the eleventh week, bringing the total number of terrorism incidents in the province this year to 323.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said that targeting militants and their hideouts in Afghanistan led to the reduction in attacks, adding that terrorism would be eliminated from the country at all costs.

He stated that masterminds behind attacks in Islamabad and Bannu were also killed during Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq.

KP Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah said the operation had an impact on the law and order situation in the province, adding that actions against militants would continue.

He noted that the reduction in incidents was due to the performance of the Pakistan Army, police and other law enforcement agencies.