Category: National

A case has been lodged against a shop owner under the relevant sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 for inciting public hatred against traffic police by making a malicious and false video go viral on TikTok.

As per the First Information Report (FIR), which includes sub-section 1D of Section 21 of peca, registered at Cantt Police Station on Sunday on the complaint of Traffic Warden Imran Sikandar, the shop owner of Hussain Autos, had uploaded a video on social media wherein the traffic police were lifting a “wrongly parked vehicle” from outside the shop.

As per sub-section 1D of section 21 of PECA, a person who “takes a photograph or makes a video of any person and displays and distributes it without his consent in a matter that harms a person.” 

The FIR stated that the complainant was lodged when a video went viral on TikTok from an account named Rizwan Singar. “My colleague Jahanzeb, who was on duty with me, also watched the video. The video is related to yesterday’s incident, in which a car was lifted for wrong parking, and a legal challan was issued for the violation,” the FIR read.

The FIR further noted that the owner of Hussain Autos, whose name is unknown, created a malicious and false video about the incident and posted it on TikTok, adding that the action was done to incite public hatred and provoke people against the police, which is a punishable offence under the PECA Act 2016.

The federal government introduced and passed the amendments to the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act in January 2025.

The new amendments add Section 26(A) to Peca, which seeks to penalise perpetrators of “fake news” online. It says anyone who intentionally spreads, displays, or transmits false information likely to cause fear, panic, or unrest in society may face up to three years imprisonment, a fine of up to Rs2 million, or both.

Earlier, a resident of Mardan was booked under the new PECA 2025 law for allegedly using abusive language against members of the local press club and spreading negative propaganda. 

 
Local police have registered an FIR against Zahid, a resident of Dagai, on the complaint of Mardan Press Club President Riaz Mayar and General Secretary Pervaz Khan Afridi. 

 
Both men alleged that Zahid had used derogatory language and spread negative propaganda against members of the press club by using social media and digital tools. 

 
Last week, the Rawalpindi Police filed another case under the Peca and arrested the accused, Muhammad Rehan, for an inappropriate post on social media. He added that the accused was later shifted to jail.

The younger daughter and last living child of former Prime Minister (PM) Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Sanam Bhutto, has received the Nishan-i-Pakistan award posthumously on her father’s behalf in recognition of his work in public service.

The investiture ceremony was held at Aiwan-i-Sadr on Sunday, where Sanam Bhutto received Pakistan’s highest civilian honor, the Nishan-e-Pakistan, on behalf of her late father. President Asif Ali Zardari presented the award in the presence of First Lady Aseefa Bhutto.

Sanam Bhutto was overwhelmed with emotion and broke into tears during the ceremony, while the hall of the President’s House echoed with chants of Jeay Bhutto.

On April 4, 1979, founder of PPP Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was executed after being convicted in a controversial murder case during the dictatorship of General Zia. He was buried at his family mausoleum in Garhi Khuda Baksh.

In March last year, the Supreme Court acknowledged that Bhutto’s trial was unfair and deprived of due process at both the trial and appellate levels, correcting what was seen as a historic miscarriage of justice.

Notable figures, including Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, parliamentarians, diplomats, media representatives and members of civil society were present at the ceremony.

The honorees included Air Marshal (Retd.) Raja Shahid Hamid who was posthumously honoured with the Nishan-i-Imtiaz for his outstanding service. Sultan Ali Akbar Allana was awarded the Nishan-i-Khidmat for his impactful work in the financial sector.

The Hilal-i-Imtiaz was awarded to several individuals for their extraordinary contributions, including Javed Jabbar for literature, Allah Rakhi Shaheed for her service to education, and Dr. Syed Tauqeer Hussain Shah for his excellence in civil service.

Syed Ali Haider Gilani was acknowledged for his contributions to public service, while Hussain Dawood was honored for his philanthropic efforts. Sadia Rashid was also awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz in recognition of her impactful work in the education sector.

Other recipients who were conferred with awards in different categories included Barkat Shah Presidential Pride of Performance Award, Haydar Qurbonov Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam, Dr Christine Brunhilde Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam, Agostino Da Polenza Tamgha-i-Pakistan, Professor Valevia Piacentini Tamgha-i-Pakistan, Syed Shakeel Shah Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, Ashhad Jawwad Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, Amin Muhammad Lakhani Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, Rehan Mahtab Chawla Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, Syed Jawad Hussain Jafferi Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, Professor Dr Usman Qamar Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, Mohtarma Dr Sara Qureshi Tamgha-i-Imtiaz.

Meanwhile, President Zardari also conferred military awards to officers and soldiers of the Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force on Sunday.

Two Sitara-i-Basalat, 227 Tamgha-i-Basalat, 82 Imtiazi Asnad, 185 COAS Commendation Cards, 23 Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military), 112 Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military) and 133 Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Military) have been awarded, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement on Sunday.

The federal cabinet on Friday approved a hefty increase in the salaries of federal ministers, ministers of state, and advisers by up to 188 percent with the federal cabinet approving the summary.

As per media reports, following the approval, the federal ministers, minister of state and advisers will receive a salary of Rs519,000 monthly. Previously, ministers were paid Rs200,000 while ministers of state received Rs180,000.

According to media reports, the salary of federal ministers has been raised by 159 percent, while the salaries of ministers of state and advisers to the prime minister have seen a staggering increase of up to 188 percent.

The development came over a month after the National Assembly passed the Members of Parliament Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill 2025 — already approved by the Senate — with a majority vote, increasing the salary of the parliament members.

All parliamentary political parties, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), and others, were on the same page regarding the massive increase in their salaries.

In December 2024, the Punjab Assembly passed an amendment bill making a massive increase in financial perks and privileges of elected members, the speaker, deputy speaker, ministers, parliamentary secretaries, special assistants and advisers.

The bill was tabled by Minister Mujtaba Shuja and passed with a majority vote. As per the Punjab Revision of Salaries of Public Representatives Bill 2024, the increase in the salaries for these offices ranges between 860 percent (for ministers) and 426 percent (for Member Provincial Assembly).

Following the bill, the speaker’s salary was increased from Rs125,000 to Rs950,000, whereas the deputy speaker will draw Rs775,000 instead of Rs120,000. Similarly, the parliamentary secretaries would receive a monthly salary of Rs451,000 instead of Rs83,000 while the special assistants and advisers to the Chief Minister will receive Rs665,000 instead of Rs100,000.

The salary of provincial ministers saw a hefty increase as it was raised from Rs100,000 to Rs960,000 monthly. Likewise, the Member Provincial Assembly’s (MPA’s) salary was increased from Rs76,000 to Rs400,000 after the approval of the bill.

Meanwhile, the Opposition leader in Punjab, Assembly Ahmed Khan Bhachar, opposed the bill, asking if it conformed to the Parliamentary Laws Act of 1972.

Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, who was chairing the session, responded that the bill was in accordance with the law and was a ‘positive’ step by the incumbent government.

At least 10 terrorists were killed and one army officer martyred during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Dera Ismail Khan district Thursday.

“On March 20, security forces conducted an intelligence based operation in Dera Ismail Khan district on the reported presence of Khwarij,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a press release.

“During the conduct of operation, own troops, after stealthily surrounding the khwarij location, effectively engaged them and resultantly all ten khwarij were sent to hell,” it further stated.

During the intense fire exchange, the military’s media wing reported, 24-year-old Captain Hasnain Akhtar of Jhelum embraced martyrdom. “[Capt Hasnain] was leading his troops from the front, having fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat.”

The ISPR commended Captain Hasnain Shaheed for his bravery as an officer, noting that he was known for his gallantry and fearlessness during previous operations.

“During the operation, weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed khwarij, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the Law Enforcement Agencies as well as target killing of innocent civilians,” the press release said.

According to ISPR, a sanitisation operation was conducted to clear the area of any remaining terrorists, adding that Pakistan’s security forces remain committed to eradicating terrorism from the country and that “such sacrifices of our brave young officers further strengthen our resolve”.

Meanwhile, a screenshot of Captain Hasnain Shaheed’s WhatsApp bio has been circulating on social media.

An X (formerly Twitter) user known by Eagle Eye (@zarrar_11PK) with a significant following shared a screenshot of the martyred captain’s status that read, “I only Regret that I have But
Only one Life to Lose For You  ”.

Chief Justice Aalia Neelum of the Lahore High Court raised concerns regarding the federal government’s procedure for blocking the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating, “We are giving the federal government a final opportunity to provide an answer in court.”

A three-member bench, led by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum, heard petitions challenging the ban on X. The petitions were filed by Huzaifa Naeem through Advocate Waseem Ahmed, along with journalist Shakir Awan, who also challenged the ban.

The Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) appeared before the bench as per the court’s orders, and the PTA submitted a written response.

The federal government’s lawyer informed the court that the Ministry of Interior does not have a system to monitor individual usage. In response, Chief Justice Aalia Neelum questioned, “The Ministry of Interior has a system to block X, but not a system to monitor usage?”

The federal government’s lawyer, Asad Bajwa, stated that the PTA had formed a committee to address the issue. To this, Chief Justice Aalia Neelum remarked, “Is this committee just a way to mislead the court?”

The lawyer further stated that the government had written to X’s administration regarding the matter. The Chief Justice then inquired, “Is X in any kind of agreement with the government?” The lawyer responded that there was no agreement, prompting the Chief Justice to question, “If there is no agreement, why would X’s administration respond to you?”

Expressing dissatisfaction, Chief Justice Aalia Neelum remarked, “This bench is not here just to receive written responses and eyewash.”

Justice Ali Zia Bajwa asked, “Is the PTA’s own X account operational?” The PTA Chairman confirmed that it was.

Justice Ali Zia Bajwa then remarked, “How is it possible that you have imposed a ban but are still using it yourselves?” The PTA Chairman responded that all users in Pakistan were accessing X through VPNs.

When asked whether he personally used a VPN, the PTA Chairman replied, “I do not personally use VPN.” However, the Chief Justice pointed out, “Your institution’s use of VPN is illegal.”

Following this, the PTA Chairman retracted his statement, saying, “I apologise, I have just been informed that we are not using VPN.” Chief Justice Aalia Neelum reacted strongly, stating, “You came here without proper knowledge and made such a significant statement.”

Justice Farooq Haider asked whether VPNs could be blocked, to which the PTA Chairman replied, “They cannot be blocked immediately but can be restricted over time.” In response, Chief Justice Aalia Neelum noted, “It has been a year, and you have done nothing. Now you are still asking for another month.”

Justice Farooq Haider questioned, “If X was to be blocked, why is VPN still functional?” The PTA Chairman argued that VPNs are used for software access, banking, and freelancing services.

Justice Ali Zia Bajwa pointed out, “Our simple question is, PTA blocked X, yet PTA itself is still using it.”

The federal government’s lawyer claimed that “VPN usage is partially legal.” Chief Justice Aalia Neelum then asked, “Tell us how much VPN is being used to access X.”

The PTA Chairman admitted, “I do not have exact data at this moment.” Chief Justice Aalia Neelum criticised this response, stating, “You hold such a high position, yet you do not have the necessary data.”

Justice Ali Zia Bajwa reminded the court, “The PTA Chairman himself said that if the court orders, X can be unblocked immediately.” To this, the PTA Chairman responded, “Yes, absolutely, if the court orders, we will unblock X immediately.”

Justice Ali Zia Bajwa remarked, “This means PTA made a mistake, and now you are looking for justification. According to regulations, specific content can be blocked, but an entire platform cannot be shut down.”

He further stated, “You can restrict inappropriate content on X, but blocking the entire platform is not permissible.” Chief Justice Aalia Neelum added, “Why has the government not fulfilled its responsibility? We are disappointed in summoning the PTA Chairman because he has no answers.”

Chief Justice Aalia Neelum concluded, “We do not have time to waste. Why should we not initiate contempt of court proceedings for wasting the bench’s time?”

She warned the government, “This is the final opportunity for the federal government to provide a response in court regarding the method used to block X. After this, we will summon the head of the Cabinet.”

The Lahore High Court then adjourned the proceedings until April 8.

It is important to note that on 17 February 2024, the Ministry of Interior imposed a ban on X, following which local journalist Ahtisham Abbasi filed a petition in the High Court challenging the restriction.

Famous cleric Maulana Azad Jameel is making headlines these days by telling wazaif (spiritual practices and rituals) to different callers seeking solutions to their problems while appearing on a private news channel’s Ramzan Transmission. His latest wazifa is for reducing household electricity bills, and it is going viral on social media.

A short clip featuring Jameel surfaced online yesterday, in which he was heard informing viewers to write “Zam-Zam” on the electricity meter utilising the “Shahadat ki ungli (index finger),” which would lead to a reduction in the electricity bill.

“If you want your electricity bill to be as low as possible, there is a wazifa. You need to write “Zam-Zam” on the electricity meter using your Shahdat ki ungli (index finger). Do this twice a month, every fifteen days. Inshallah, I guarantee that your electricity bill will decrease,” the cleric said.

Internet users were quick to react to the clip, with some users mocking the scholar. One user, while sharing the video, wrote, “Air conditioner khul kar chalain (Let the air conditioner run freely)”

Another user satirically wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “This wazifa is absolutely effective. One day, I wrote ‘Zam Zam’ with my finger on my neighbor’s car’s fuel tank—its fuel line got jammed. An ice vendor once wrote ‘Zam-Zam’ on his ice block during the peak of June and July—he’s still waiting for the ice to melt.
In the Well of Death, a stuntman was riding his motorcycle along the wall when a spectator gestured and wrote ‘Zam Zam’ in the air—the motorcycle and the rider have been stuck on the wall ever since (sic).”

“I wrote ‘Zam Zam’ on the electricity meter early in the morning at Sehri time. Now, no one’s father can send me a high bill!! Thank you, Maulana,” quipped another user. While a netizen called the cleric’s wazifa “religious meter tempering.”

The cleric had earlier made a big revelation in the Ramzan transmission, claiming that he received a call from an unknown number on his phone. He said that the caller informed him that the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad SAW (PBUH) met the caller in a dream, advising him to read the wazifa told by Jameel. The cleric took an oath three times before recounting it.

In another episode of the transmission, he berated a female caller, who was complaining about her husband’s excessive talkativeness. Rather than addressing her concerns, the cleric advised her to speak less instead.

Pakistani traveller Waqas Hassan, who has been globetrotting for 15 years, recently found himself transiting through Mumbai Airport on an IndiGo flight from Singapore to Saudi Arabia. His six-hour layover in India was not something he had planned, and in his now-viral Instagram video, he expressed his surprise that Pakistanis could transit via India.

Standing inside Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Waqas recorded his brief yet memorable time there, sharing his experience with his followers.

“Did you know that with a Pakistani passport, you can transit through India? Of course, if you have a self-check-in flight and want to leave the airport, that’s not permitted. But if it’s a connecting flight, then you can do it.”

His journey, however, wasn’t entirely without complications. Waqas noted that when he handed over his Pakistani passport at the transfer counter, Indian airport officials looked at him suspiciously.

“They were surprised. Not many Pakistanis do this—it was new for them too.”

Despite the initial unease, Waqas took advantage of his time at the airport. He explored the lounges, tried the famous Mumbai street food ‘Vada Pav,’ and even purchased a souvenir before continuing his travels.

The video quickly gained popularity, with numerous Indian social media users extending a warm welcome to Waqas. Comments poured in, expressing joy that he had a chance to “touch Indian soil.” One user commented: “Sir, you are most welcome to India.” Another noted: “So close yet so far—if only politics didn’t keep us apart.” 

Waqas’s journey underscores a travel loophole that is often overlooked—Pakistani citizens can transit through India under certain conditions. However, it remains a rare occurrence, making his experience both remarkable and noteworthy.