Category: National

US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce has given a neutral response to a question linked to former premier Imran Khan’s incarceration, stating that she will not comment on the internal frameworks of another country.

During the weekly media briefing on Wednesday, Frontier Post journalist Jalil Afridi, before asking his question, stated that the most popular Pakistani leader and biggest charity collector, Imran Khan, has been languishing in jail for the last two years, and everything in the country, whether it is the democracy or human rights, has been shattered in previous two years.

He then asked, “President Trump was talking a lot about Pakistan before the elections [the US Presidential], and thousands of his new voters in the US and millions of Pakistanis are expecting him to take some sort of action with regard to that country. Do you have anything in mind or have you heard anything the president says?”

Bruce responded, “I’m not going to comment on the internal frameworks of another country,” instructing the journalist to reach out to the White House regarding President Trump’s actions and intentions about Pakistan.

“I do think… President Trump has made it clear, as has Rubio [US Secretary of State], that we care about the planet, we care about our neighbours, we care about what’s happening on the globe, and that’s been evidenced by our actions,” the US State Department spokesperson concluded.

It is not the first time that the US State Department has avoided providing a crystal answer regarding former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s incarceration, as earlier this month, Bruce had outrightly sidestepped Jalil’s question about Imran Khan’s imprisonment during a briefing.

The journalist had earlier questioned, “Is the President aware that the most popular leader of Pakistan, Imran Khan, has been in jail for the last three years now, and a lot of atrocities have happened? Is the president at all interested in paying a little attention to Pakistan?”

 
The U.S. State Department spokesperson, while sidestepping the question, said, “I will answer that with noting that in his address to Congress, the president announced the arrest of ISIS-K operative, planned and responsible for killing 13 brave American service members and over 160 Afghan citizens at Abbey Gate.”

 
The spokesperson further said that the US extended gratitude to the government of Pakistan, adding that the US did collaborate in bringing Mohammad Sharifullah to justice.

On March 4, speaking to a joint session of Congress, President Trump thanked Pakistan for its role in arresting the alleged mastermind behind the 2021 Kabul Airport bombing, Sharifuulah, also known as Jafar.

Former premier Imran Khan’s lawyer, Faisal Chaudhry, and journalist Murtaza Solangi were engaging in light banter during a political talk show on Wednesday until the exchange took a heated turn when Faisal asked Murtaza, “Dawai nahi khai abhi aap ne? (Have you not taken your medicine yet?)”

Moments before the two entered a heated debate, the talk show host, Kamran Shahid, told Chaudhry that during Imran Khan’s government, half of the cabinet used to call the then Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa “Baap” (father).

In response, Chaudhry agreed with the host’s statement, saying, “I agree that they [cabinet members] had made such foolish remarks, which they shouldn’t have.”

The host then directed a question to Solangi, former Caretaker Information Minister, asking whether he believed there was a lack of national leadership during the resurgence of terrorism in Pakistan.

“The Army is providing leadership; however, it cannot provide political leadership. What must be done? The public says that the popular leader is Imran Khan, who is incarcerated, and his voice is not being heard. If he stands with the country against terrorism, does that not provide an advantage?” the host asked.

Before answering, Solangi called out Chaudhry, saying, “Sab se ziyada chawwalain Faisal Chaudhry ke naye leader Imran Khan maarta tha. Unhon ne kaha tha ke sab se ziyada jamhori leader General Bajwa hain, ab wo kuch aur baatein karte hain.” (Faisal Chaudhry’s new leader, Imran Khan, used to make foolish remarks. He had said that General Bajwa was the most democratic leader, but now he says entirely different things.)

He then added, “Imran Khan is a Taliban Khan. How can he fight against the Taliban…”

Chaudhry chimed in, “Dawai nahi khai abhi aap ne? (Have you not taken your medicine yet?)” which prompted Solangi to make a personal jibe at Chaudhry. “I think you should continue taking your weight-loss medicine; it will benefit you,” Solangi mocked.

Chaudhry then accused Solangi of being involved in the alleged “fraud” general election of 2024.
Stating that he could not listen to Chaudhry’s rant, the ex-Minister left the show, despite the host urging him to stay.

Earlier, Imran Khan’s lawyer had engaged in a heated exchange with Adiala Jail officials after being denied entry to the prison.

In a video of the verbal altercation, the lawyer can be heard hurling abuse at Jail Assistant Superintendent Imran Riaz as he visited the prison to meet incarcerated Imran.

“Why was I stopped… who dares not clear me?” Chaudhry asked the police officer, while the assistant superintendent was heard giving explanations to the lawyer.

Following the altercation, Chaudhry registered a complaint against the jail administration at the Adiala Jail checkpost, maintaining that his “power of attorney” is attached to all cases of PTI founder Imran Khan. He added that the jail staff stopped him at the prison’s entrance and did not allow him to enter.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir, while addressing a high-level in-camera meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) on Tuesday, vowed to uproot terrorism.

The Army chief said, “Today is a message that we will not only defeat them [terrorists] but also their facilitators.”

Emphasising the adoption of a unified narrative to safeguard Pakistan, he stressed rising above political and personal interests. 

Declaring the fight against terrorism a battle for the nation’s survival and the future of generations, the army chief said, “All elements of national power must operate in unison to achieve lasting stability.”

General Munir stated that no agenda, movement, or individual is greater than national security, adding, “If this country exists, so do we; therefore, nothing is more important to us than its security.”

The Army chief, while blaming the “soft state” for the loss of innocent lives, inquired for how long they [armed forces] would fill the “gaps of governance” with martyrs’ blood. “We need better governance […] we should make Pakistan a hard state,” he said.

As per the media report, at the conclusion of the crucial meeting, upon the request of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ayaz Sadiq, the Army Chief led a prayer.

The in-camera session occurred in Islamabad on Tuesday amid a sharp uptick in terrorist activities in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, including the major terror attack at Jaffar Express last week carried out by the banned outfit Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) militants.

The high-level meeting was attended by Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, COAS Munir, Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (DG ISI) Lieutenant General Asim Malik, chief ministers of all four provinces, including Ali Amin Gandapur, and other top officials.

However, several key figures, including Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members, skipped the high-level huddle.

According to the declaration issued at the conclusion of the crucial session, the meeting stressed the need for consensus and unified political commitment to combat terrorism with full force.

“The committee emphasised strategic and unified political commitment to counter the terror threat with the full might of the state,” added the statement.

Six-year-old Asad Ullah spends his days in a hospital ward, clutching a faded stuffed toy and humming songs from his favorite cartoons. But behind his bright smile lies a painful reality: Asad is fighting retinoblastoma, a rare and aggressive eye cancer that has already stolen his right eye. Now, as he undergoes chemotherapy at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital’s Centre for Eye Cancer, the goal is to save his remaining eye and protect his future from permanent darkness.

Asad’s story began in Domel, a small town of district Attock, where his family first noticed a faint, unsettling glow in his right eye. Struggling with poverty and unaware of the gravity of his symptoms, they could not access specialized care in time. By the time they reached Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, surgeons had no choice but to remove the right eye to stop the cancer’s spread. Now the hospital’s team is pouring every resource into shielding his left eye from the same fate.

Asad is receiving chemotherapy for his eye tumor. Chemo sessions leave him weak and nauseous, but Asad greets nurses with a grin and doodles abstracts during brief respites. His mother, Saima, wipes away tears as she speaks about his son.

“He asks when he can go back home and play with his friends.” she says.

“Losing his other eye would mean losing everything—school, play, independence,”

Saima whispers, her voice trembling. “We live moment to moment, trusting the doctors and God.

For now, Asad’s world revolves around hospital corridors and his mother’s lullabies. But with each chemotherapy cycle, hope flickers brighter. The Centre for Eye Cancer, known for its advanced ocular oncology (eye cancer) program and world-class free eye cancer treatment, has become his family’s last hope. The family clings to the belief that his remaining eye will heal, that his dreams will outlast the darkness threatening to engulf his future.

The Centre for Eye Cancer at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital in Rawalpindi stands as Pakistan’s only exclusive facility dedicated to eye cancer offering free, world-class cancer care to all patients, irrespective of socioeconomic status. As a pioneer in the field, the Centre combines cutting-edge technology and specialized expertise to deliver life-saving treatments without compromising on quality or accessibility.

Beyond this life-saving initiative, Al-Shifa Trust operates the largest network of tertiary eye care hospitals in Pakistan and aims to eliminate preventable blindness. Since 1991, Al-Shifa Trust has treated over 29 million patients. Monthly, over 80,000 underprivileged patients receive free eye care at Al-Shifa Trust. Join us in our mission to eliminate preventable blindness and support free eye care for the underprivileged.

To learn more about Al-Shifa Trust, visit http://www.alshifaeye.org

A press release purportedly issued by the Government of Pakistan regarding public holidays for Eid ul Fitr 2025 is making rounds on social media. 

According to the document, the government has declared March 31 (Monday) to April 2 (Wednesday), 2025, as public holidays for the festive occasion.

The notice comes two days after another unverified  notification showed a week long bonanza of holidays, extending from Monday to Friday. 

The new press release claims that the Prime Minister has approved the three-day break in continuation of the Cabinet Division’s previous circular on public and optional holidays for the year 2025. 

Eid ul Fitr is one of the most significant religious celebrations for Muslims around the world, marking the end of the holy month of Ramzan. Every year, the government announces official holidays to allow citizens to observe the holy occasion with their families.

In Pakistan, the tradition of Roza Kushai marks a significant milestone: a child’s first fast during Ramadan. More than just a personal achievement, it’s a moment woven into the fabric of family and community, a celebration of faith, resilience, and togetherness.

A new campaign is tapping into this cultural touchstone, sparking a wave of nostalgia and prompting reflection on how this cherished practice continues to evolve.

Roza Kushai, traditionally a personal milestone for a child, involves family gatherings, special meals, and gifts to mark the accomplishment of fasting for the first time. A new ad by PepsiCo beautifully depicts these intimate moments of familial joy and support.

However, the campaign also subtly highlights how Roza Kushai has expanded beyond the individual, often becoming a communal event. Mosques and community organizations now frequently host Roza Kushai celebrations, providing meals and support to children and families, particularly those in need. This shift reflects a broader trend towards collective celebration and shared responsibility in society.

The ad showcases families coming together, children receiving gifts, and communities ensuring everyone is well-fed at Iftar. In a rapidly changing world, the campaign serves as a potent reminder of the enduring significance of Roza Kushai. The ad has sparked an important discussion about how families and communities continue to adapt and preserve this tradition. Social media is abuzz with individuals sharing personal Roza Kushai memories, underscoring the tradition’s deep roots in Pakistani culture.

Ramadan campaigns in Pakistan typically experience high digital engagement, with brands often seeing a substantial increase in consumer interaction. Nostalgia-driven ads, like PepsiCo’s, strengthen brand recall and foster a deeper connection with audiences by tapping into shared cultural experiences.

Ultimately, PepsiCo’s ad does more than celebrate a tradition; it acknowledges its evolution and its continued importance in fostering community and preserving cultural identity. The campaign encourages viewers to consider how Roza Kushai, whether celebrated within the family or as part of a larger community, remains an experience of love, joy, and togetherness.

What’s your most cherished Roza Kushai memory?

The Peshawar High Court has overturned the life sentence of a juvenile convicted of killing his teenage sister in the name of honour. 

The convict’s appeal was accepted by the court after his parents, also the legal heirs of the deceased teenaged victim, pardoned him.

The bench was convinced that the parties had reached a compromise without any pressure, force, coercion, or undue influence.

On 14 February 2023, the appellant was charged in an FIR registered at Charbagh police station in Swat under Section 302 (intentional murder) and Section 311 (Fasad Fil Arz or mischief on earth) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

On 15 May 2024, a juvenile court in Swat convicted him under Section 302 PPC, sentencing him to life imprisonment and imposing a fine of Rs1 million, to be paid to the legal heirs of his deceased sister.

The trial court, however, did not apply Section 311 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) because the girl’s parents had not initially waived their right to Qisas. Consequently, the court ruled that Section 311 PPC was not relevant to the case.

According to the high court, Section 302 PPC is a compoundable offence, meaning it can be settled through compromise. However, Section 311 PPC, a non-compoundable offence, did not apply in this case. As a result, the appeal was accepted following a compromise.

The appellant’s representative, Advocate Saeed Khan, argued that while the deceased woman was married, she had already been divorced, which made her parents the sole legal heirs.

The victim’s parents appeared before the court and stated that they had pardoned their son, the appellant, in the name of Allah, waiving their right to Qisas and Diyat. They also clarified that they did not object to his acquittal.

 

The Case

According to the complainant, Additional SHO of Charbagh Police Station, Shamsul Haq, they received information about the murder of a woman. Upon reaching the scene, they found her body on a cot.

The deceased, who was around 17 years old, had reportedly left home two years earlier with a man named Salman, whom she married. A case was registered against Salman, leading to his arrest, while the woman was sent to a shelter home. Later, she was released and returned to her parents’ house, where she was residing when she was divorced. 

The complainant alleged that the appellant killed his sister in the name of honour by slitting her throat with a sharp-edged cutter.

As per the verdict, the trial court noted that in that region, a woman eloping or leaving her family’s home is deemed shameful and dishonourable.

“It is generally observed that females are done to death on the pretext or in the name of honour on the sole ground of elopement or desertion with a male,” the court remarked, according to Dawn.

The court concluded that since the deceased had indeed eloped, her killing within the accused’s home on the grounds of honour was plausible.