Current Final

Category: National

  • At least six passengers killed by armed men in Gwadar

    At least six passengers killed by armed men in Gwadar

    At least six passengers were killed on Wednesday night in a brutal attack on a Karachi-bound bus in the Kalmat area of the Gwadar district, Balochistan.

    According to Gwadar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Hamoodur Rehman, armed men intercepted the bus, offloaded the passengers, and executed five of them.

    Earlier, the death of five passengers had been confirmed. However, one of the injured later succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment at the hospital. The authorities have confirmed that one of the deceased hailed from the Punjab district of Multan, while the other victims were all travelling to Karachi.

    The brutal act of violence occurred just days after armed assailants killed four workers from Punjab in Mangochar, Balochistan.

    Gunmen targeted and killed the workers who were involved in the installation of tube wells in Langzai. Local officials confirmed that the victims were from Sadiqabad, Punjab.

    Separately, seven people were killed in an attack on a house in a village in the Sohbat Pur district when unidentified individuals opened fire and then set the house ablaze.

    According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Yousaf Banghar, the deceased were from the same family and included a woman and three children. He said the incident was related to a land dispute between the victims and the attackers.

    President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in separate statements, prayed for peace for the departed souls and condemned the killing of the five passengers in the shooting incident in Gwadar’s Kalmat area on Thursday, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

    The president remarked, “The terrorists are the enemies of the country’s development and prosperity of Balochistan. They cannot see progress in Balochistan.”

    Condemning the Gwadar attack on passengers, the PM expressed sorrow and grief over the loss of lives and directed relevant authorities to probe the attack and bring those responsible to justice. “We will never allow the anti-state designs of miscreants to succeed,” Shehbaz Sharif added.

    Reaffirming the government’s commitment, the prime minister vowed to thwart any anti-state agendas. He also commended the security forces and law enforcement agencies for their efforts in protecting the country, expressing national pride in their actions.

    Condemning the incident, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Offloading innocent passengers from a bus and murdering them based on their identity is a heinous and cowardly act.”

    Extending his condolences to the bereaved families, CM Bugti pledged that the “war against hardcore terrorists would continue and they would be brought to justice by all means”.

  • ‘I’m coming back’: Mysterious Imran Khan posters pop up in Lahore

    ‘I’m coming back’: Mysterious Imran Khan posters pop up in Lahore

    An undated video has been making the rounds online, showing an unidentified individual putting up posters featuring incarcerated former premier Imran Khan’s image, along with the Urdu text “main wapas aa raha hoon” (I’m coming back), across various directional signboards in Lahore.

    In the 51-second clip, which has now gone viral, an unknown man wearing a black cap and black trousers can be seen putting up the poster on multiple directional signboards around the city.

    Some of the apparent locations where the posters were put up include signs reading “Sharif Medical City Road,” “Jati Umra Chowk,” and “Raiwind City.”

    The video has stirred some debate online, with many netizens expressing concern that the posters could obscure important road directions.

    A user asked on X (formerly Twitter), “Poster in jagon ke bajai kaheen aur lagai toh acha nahee? aisa toh aik din pura shehr ganda hojai ga. (Wouldn’t it be better to put posters somewhere else instead of these places? Otherwise, one day the whole city will become dirty).

    One social media user wrote, “This is wrong; it should be stopped. Posting posters on traffic signs is a crime.” Another netizen slammed, “Why is there litter everywhere? This message can be conveyed more appropriately and respectfully.”

    “Itny choty sey poster se lag raha hai k Khan bs a hi jayega (Such a small poster makes it seem like Khan will arrive any moment now.),” quipped another user, with one netizen mocked, “Imran Khan’s picture has been placed in the wrong spot. It should have been put on the U-turn sign.”

    Meanwhile, one user asked, “Why is he hiding his face while putting up the posters?” with another urging authorities to take legal action against those who damage signboards.

  • I’m barred from meeting friends, speaking to my children: Imran Khan

    I’m barred from meeting friends, speaking to my children: Imran Khan

    Imprisoned former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has complained that despite court orders, he was barred from meeting friends, speaking to his children on the phone, or accessing his diary and books.

    In a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Imran Khan’s message read, “This week, my sisters were also denied a meeting with me,” adding that he had just one meeting with his political colleagues, which was scheduled entirely at the discretion of jail authorities.

    Calling the Balochistan government “illegitimate,” he remarked that, being a Pakistani and a former Premier, he is deeply concerned about the ongoing situation in Balochistan marked by a sharp rise in terrorism. “It is the fundamental duty of the state to address the grievances of the people of Balochistan,” he added.

    “The situation in Balochistan cannot improve unless the genuine public representatives are brought into the mainstream, their voices are sincerely heard, and the fate of the region is decided in accordance with the will of the people. Sheer force can never resolve this issue. It would rather deepen the crisis and fuel further instability,” he stressed.

    Emphasising that terrorism can be addressed by engaging in dialogue with Afghanistan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said that as Pakistan shared a 2200-kilometre border with Afghanistan, “peaceful negotiations are the only way forward.”

    He said that despite strained relations with the Afghan government during his tenure, his party engaged in direct talks with them, adding that the implementation of policies over three years during his reign had successfully eliminated terrorism.

    “However, after our tenure, the adoption of Biden’s policy led to numerous issues, and today, the public is bearing the consequences in the form of increased terrorism. The current government’s lack of seriousness is evident from the fact that neither during the PDM (Pakistan Democratic Movement) regime nor under the present administration has the Foreign Minister visited Afghanistan or undertaken any serious diplomatic initiatives,” he said.

    PTI’s founder complained that the ToshaKhana case trial, which was being conducted within the jail premises, had been arbitrarily halted without explanation. 


    “Previously, the verdict in the Al-Qadir Trust case was deliberately delayed so that my case could be presented before handpicked judges in the Islamabad High Court following court packing. After extensive legal efforts, when my appeal was finally scheduled for hearing, objections were raised, further delaying the matter until after Eid,” he said.

    Imran Khan maintained that the above-mentioned reasons clearly prove that the “imposed government’s primary goal is to keep me in jail at all costs,” as his cases have no legal standing and will be overruled whenever they are heard on merits. “This is a fixed match being played under a well-orchestrated plan,” he added.

  • Temperatures above normal, less rains; PMD forecasts alarming weather

    Temperatures above normal, less rains; PMD forecasts alarming weather

    The Pakistan Metereological Department (PMD) has made an alarming forecast for the coming months, predicting temperatures to rise 3 C to 5 C above normal. 

    Chief Metereologist Muhammad Afzal addressed a press conference on Wednesday in Islamabad, where he stated that the country had recorded a 42 percent drop in winter rainfall, with Sindh receiving 63 percent less rain, Balochistan 53 percent and Punjab 41 percent, driving water levels in dams and reservoirs to reach “dead levels”. He warned that rain forecast for the coming few months for northern regions of Pakistan shows below normal levels, threatening water availability for agricultural and domestic use. 

    The shortage could lead to crop failures, the spread of diseases, and negative impacts on wildlife. He stressed that the public should use water wisely to mitigate the crisis.

    Continuing in the vein of further bad news, PMD warned that urban areas could witness heatwave conditions. 

    Intense heat may also trigger glacial melts, increasing the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). 

    While Pakistan typically receives 19.4 percent of its annual rain between April and June, a less than normal forecast could lead to groundwater depletion. 

    PMD has said that temperatures around Eid will remain 2 C to 3 C higher than normal with most of the country battling hot and dry weather. 

    However, a wet spell with rain, thunderstorms, and snowfall over mountains is expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and northern Punjab on March 26-27.

  • Canada says fearing potential Pakistani, Chinese, others’ interference in upcoming elections

    Canada says fearing potential Pakistani, Chinese, others’ interference in upcoming elections

    Canadian intelligence has warned that Pakistan, Russia, China and India could “potentially attempt to interfere” in the country’s upcoming general election on April 28.

    As per the details, reports quoted Deputy Director of Operations at Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) Vanessa Lloyd as saying that China was “highly likely to use AI-enabled tools to attempt to interfere with Canada’s democratic process”.

    Regarding India, she said that the country had the “intent and capability” to do it as well whereas Russia and Pakistan could also seek to interfere.

    Lloyd maintained that these nations were increasingly using AI to interfere in elections around the globe. “It’s often very difficult to establish a direct link between foreign interference activities and election results… nevertheless, threat activities can erode public trust in the integrity of Canada’s democratic processes and institutions.”

    The statement comes amid dwindling ties between Ottawa and both New Delhi and Beijing.

    While there is no clarity over hints mentioning Pakistan and Russia, earlier this month, Beijing announced tariffs on more than $2.6 billion worth of Canadian agricultural and food products, retaliating against levies slapped on Chinese products last year.

    War of words over Indian intelligence’s alleged activities in Canada besides the killings of Canadian nationals allegedly by New Delhi has also repeatedly made headlines over the past several months.

  • Bill in US Congress seeks sanctions on Pakistan army chief, others over ‘rights situation’

    Bill in US Congress seeks sanctions on Pakistan army chief, others over ‘rights situation’

    Republican Congressman Joe Wilson and Democrat Jimmy Panetta on Monday have introduced a bipartisan bill in the US House of Representatives, seeking to sanction Pakistani state functionaries over alleged human rights violations and persecution of former premier Imran Khan.

    The proposed legislation in the bill, titled the ‘Pakistan Democracy Act’ calls for sanctions on Pakistan’s army chief within 180 days under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. Violators of this act can be subjected to denial of entry to the United States (US) and ineligibility for U.S. visas.

    The draft bill further calls on the US administration to identify key figures involved in the alleged suppression of political opposition in Pakistan and add them to a sanctions list. Additionally, it grants the US president the authority to lift these sanctions if Pakistan ceases military interference in governance and frees all “wrongfully detained political prisoners.”

    On Monday, Wilson took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce the “Pakistan Democracy Act,” introduced in the House of Representatives, writing, “I am grateful to introduce the PAKISTAN DEMOCRACY ACT to sanction those undermining democracy in Pakistan!”

    In June 2024, a resolution with overwhelming bipartisan support, with 98 percent votes in favour, was passed in the House of Representatives. That resolution called on then-Democratic US President Joe Biden to press Pakistan to uphold democracy and the rule of law. However, the Biden administration has not taken any action in response.

    While acknowledging concern over the bill, Pakistani diplomats remained hopeful that the bill would not gain enough traction to be implemented, a leading newspaper has reported. Diplomats pointed out that the U.S. still considers Pakistan an important security partner, citing Islamabad’s cooperation in the recent arrest and deportation of an Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) terrorist, Mohammad Sharifullah.  

    In a historic joint speech to Congress earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump thanked the Pakistani government for assisting in the apprehension of the mastermind behind the deadly 2021 Kabul airport Abbey Gate attack.

    In February, Wilson and Congressman August Pfluger had written a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling for the release of Imran Khan. 

    The letter read, “You (Marco Rubio) recall that Imran Khan was Prime Minister in your first term, and you both shared a strong relationship. He is widely beloved in Pakistan, and his release would usher in a new era of U.S.-Pakistan relations with freedom value at its core”.

    Drawing a parallel between Imran Khan and U.S. President Donald J. Trump as victims of “judicial abuse,” the letter stated that Imran Khan was imprisoned on trumped-up charges.

  • ‘Faisal Ch removed from PTI legal committee on Imran Khan’s orders’

    ‘Faisal Ch removed from PTI legal committee on Imran Khan’s orders’

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja claimed on Tuesday that, following orders from incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan, lawyer Faisal Chaudhry has been removed from the PTI legal committee.

    Speaking on a private media outlet, Raja described Faisal’s role as “negative” and said, “Today, Khan sahab ordered his removal from the legal committee… The matter had been ongoing for a while, and today, it reached its conclusion. We have removed him from the legal committee.”

    According to media reports, after Imran Khan was informed of Faisal Chaudhry’s recent statements, the PTI founder approved his removal from both the legal committee and the PTI lawyers’ WhatsApp group. All legal responsibilities and cases assigned to him were also withdrawn.

    Raja further claimed that although a list of six individuals was submitted to meet Imran Khan, Senator Hamid Khan and lawyer Uzair Bhandari were not allowed to meet him.

    He stated that the jail administration removed two names from the approved list and added Babar Awan’s name instead. “I spoke to the jail authorities and questioned why they were violating the prisoner’s decision by not allowing those I had listed,” he added.

    When asked by the programme host, “Did you object only to Awan’s meeting with Imran Khan today and not next week?” Raja replied, “Yes, absolutely. We had proposed his name for next week.”

    Meanwhile, Faisal’s brother and former Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry, gave a scathing response to Raja following the announcement. Sharing a clip of Raja’s statement on X (formerly Twitter), Fawad used a derogatory term and wrote, “He [Raja] has been placed here just to remove so-and-so.” 

    Former PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat, who had previously had a verbal spat with Raja, also weighed in on the matter via his official X account: “The dismissal of Faisal Chaudhry and the humiliation of Dr. Babar Awan in just one day are just two examples of how the party is being weakened by egotistical individuals. I predict that the downfall of these sick-minded people will be dreadful and very soon. Given the speed at which they are destroying the party, I hope that the turn for Khan Sahib’s removal comes soon as well.”

  • Drought warning issued as Pakistan deals with dwindling rains

    Drought warning issued as Pakistan deals with dwindling rains

    The Pakistan Metereological Department (PMD) has issued a drought alert as the country grapples with a significant shortfall in average rainfall. 

    The aftermath of a significantly dry winter season has seen the country witness a 40 percent decrease in rains from September 1, 2024 to March 21, 2025, PMD has stated. 

    Sindh witnessed the greatest shortfall at 62 percent below normal, followed by Balochistan at 52 percent, Punjab at 38 percent, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 35 percent and Azad Jammu & Kashmir received 29 percent less rain than average.

    In January, PMD had said that parts of Punjab, nearly all of Sindh and half of Balochistan were facing “mild drought” and predicted that “flash droughts” might hit parts of the country in the warmer months. 

    Although recent spells of rains have improved conditions in the central and northern regions of the country, drought conditions still prevail in Sindh, eastern Punjab and the south of Balochistan. 

    PMD also warned of severe water shortage in Tarbela and Mangla dams, while noting that March temperatures in southern areas have been 2 to 3 degrees Celsius above normal. Some regions in the South of the country recorded as much as 200 consecutive days without rain. 

    The PMD warning comes almost three years after record rainfall caused biblical floods in the country in monsoon season, inundating almost 33 percent of the country’s land mass.

  • Maryam Nawaz suspends Jinnah Hospital’s Medical Superintendent, Principal

    Maryam Nawaz suspends Jinnah Hospital’s Medical Superintendent, Principal

    Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday suspended the Medical Superintendent (MS) and Principal of Jinnah Hospital following complaints from patients and their attendants about the unavailability of free medicines and essential medical tests.

    A video of her surprise visit to the hospital emerged online yesterday, showing the CM inspecting the hospital’s medicine store and emergency ward, personally engaging with patients and their attendants. 
    As per media reports, the chief minister examined medical prescriptions and inquired about the availability of medicines and other healthcare facilities, including medical tests. 

    While further interacting with patients and their families in the emergency ward, she inquired about the availability of medicines and medical tests. Many patients expressed grievances, stating that they were forced to purchase medicines from outside despite hospital policies ensuring free medication.

    Responding to complaints, Maryam Nawaz instructed hospital staff to take urgent corrective measures.

    Meanwhile, after witnessing the situation firsthand, the Chief Minister acted swiftly, holding hospital authorities accountable. She assured patients that the government is committed to improving public healthcare facilities and will not tolerate any mismanagement that compromises patient welfare.

    “Providing citizens with quality and timely healthcare is the government’s top priority,” she stated, warning that negligence will not be tolerated.

    Maryam Nawaz’s surprise visit was not the first of its type, as earlier this month, she suspended the Mayo Hospital Lahore MS Dr Faisal Masood over complaints against the administration involving poor treatment facilities.

    In a video that went viral, Maryam Nawaz, accompanied by Provincial Specialised Healthcare Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, and senior health officials, was heard inquiring about Masood’s appointment as the MS of the hospital.


    “The guy needs to be fired,” she ordered while pointing her finger at him.


    “You should be thankful that I am not having you arrested,” she said to the MS, adding that Masood was unaware of the patients’ conditions in the hospital.

     
    According to media reports, the Chief Minister visited the emergency block, tuberculosis (TB) and chest ward, intensive care unit (ICU), cardiology, and other areas of the hospital. She also inquired about the patient’s well-being. Patients and their attendants complained about the lack of facilities in the hospital.

    She said the people visiting the hospital for treatment were suffering, and their complaints were not being addressed, while the administration was ignorant of the conditions faced by the patients.

  • Internet reacts to President Zardari’s shaky speech on March 23

    Internet reacts to President Zardari’s shaky speech on March 23

    The internet has reacted to President Asif Ali Zardari’s speech on March 23, which was marked by several fumbles, mispronunciations, awkward pauses, and a trembling voice.

    A special parade marking Pakistan Day was held at Aiwan-e-Sadr, with President Asif Ali Zardari as the chief guest.

    Contingents of the Pakistan Army, Navy, and Air Force participated and presented a salute. Fighter jets from the Pakistan Air Force performed a fly-past during the event. Foreign diplomats and other dignitaries attended the ceremony.

    During the 23rd March Pakistan Day Parade, the President delivered a speech in which he was heard struggling to pronounce certain words, leaving the internet divided, with some mocking him while others were concerned about his health.

    One user, while sharing a short clip of the shaky address, captioned it, “Due to being overly excited, the words were slipping away.”

    Another asked, “Who wrote such difficult words?” while someone quipped, “Hence Proved that Urdu is indeed a difficult language!”

    Some users expressed concern about his health. One wrote, “Not really his mistake. But aged factor. This is the same person who was once consider the master of politics in Pakistan. Despite criticism, his party’s contribution to the Pakistan should also be acknowledge.”

    An internet user commented, “Age and health spare no one. Whatever our differences, we should show some humanity,” while another said, “It’s painful to see someone in such a state on such an important occasion. Hope he is okay.”

    “No one should have to go through this in front of the whole nation. May he be well,” wrote another user on X (formerly Twitter).

    “Broken words, trembling voice, disconnected thoughts, stumbling delivery—in this speech by the President of Pakistan, the country’s democracy is speaking. It is trembling, disjointed, and fragmented, much like the connection the public has with this government and state, which is as distant as the sense (meaning) in President Asif Ali Zardari’s words in this speech,” opined another user.

    Despite all the setbacks, the President delivered the speech. “We are a resilient nation capable of overcoming challenges. We will not hesitate to make any sacrifice for the protection of our homeland. We have successfully faced internal and external terrorism and will eradicate it from the root,” Zardari asserted.

    Referring to India, President Zardari said it has always viewed Pakistan with hostility, but Pakistan remains committed to becoming a strong, modern Islamic welfare state. He assured that the nation stands united with the armed forces to eliminate the menace of terrorism.