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Category: National

  • ‘It took three attempts to cross the mountains,’ says Imran Riaz

    ‘It took three attempts to cross the mountains,’ says Imran Riaz

    YouTuber and former TV host Imran Riaz Khan, on Friday, in his maiden interview after running away from Pakistan, described his escape from the country.

    Imran Riaz Khan, while speaking to YouTube channel Sherin Zada, claimed that former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Qasim Suri assisted him in escaping from the country. “Qasim Suri asked me to shave my beard, which I refused; however, I used spray to dye my beard black before leaving Pakistan,” he said.

    For the past month, Khan had remained out of the public eye. However, he continued to upload regular vlogs on his YouTube channel, though his videos did not reveal any background details, leaving his exact location unclear.

    Khan clarified that he had been residing in Swat before leaving Pakistan. Prior to that, he had stayed in safe places across Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, and Swabi.

    The former TV host took to X (formerly Twitter) on Friday to confirm that he had left Pakistan, writing, “….I am proud that my Lord granted me steadfastness against every injustice. I have endured the worst torture and terrifying imprisonment. I have been arrested 10 times and faced dozens of cases. I was even forcibly stopped from performing Hajj, but my Lord granted me patience. I have some important responsibilities to fulfil, and I will return to Pakistan soon, InshaAllah.”

    Khan claimed that Suri introduced him to individuals who accompanied him during his escape from the country, adding, “It took us three attempts to surpass the mountains. I have walked approximately 40 hours in collective attempts.”

    According to the YouTuber, he sustained injuries during his final successful attempt. “My cheek, thighs, and abdomen were severely injured in the third and final attempt after crossing the mountains,” he recalled.

    Khan emphasised that it was Suri who persuaded him to flee abroad.

    Describing his journey, Khan further claimed that he had walked 17 hours in a single day. “I rested just four times in the 17-hour-long walk. During the expedition, we had four apples and a one-and-a-half-litre bottle of water,” he claimed.

    Commenting on his widely circulated photo, in which Khan seemed to be injured while escaping from the country, he confirmed that his companion indeed captured it.

    The former TV host did not reveal which country he had shifted to. However, according to YouTuber Moeed Pirzada, Riaz is currently in the United Kingdom (UK).

    “Congratulations to Imran Riaz & family for reaching the UK safe & sound! Imran & his family have suffered enormously at the hands of Pakistan’s fascist regime! And finally, he has the freedom to dissect the pathological nature of the Pakistani state! Best Wishes!” wrote Pirzada on X on Friday.

    Many tweeps then found old tweets written by Imran Riaz in which he had ridiculed former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for leaving for the UK from jail.

  • Firing in Upper Kurram injures assistant commissioner

    Firing in Upper Kurram injures assistant commissioner

    Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) Saeed Manan Khan was reportedly injured in a firing incident in the volatile Upper Kurram tehsil on Friday.

    Dawn quotes sources at Parachinar District Headquarters Hospital saying, “The Kurram AC was visiting the Boshehra area for [implementing] the ceasefire and was accompanied by police.”

    Reports suggest the firing incident occurred in the Boshehra area of Upper Kurram.

    Shafique Hussain, one of the tribal leaders, was also quoted as saying that he was accompanying AC Manan and that they were “busy in implementing the ceasefire” when the incident occurred.

    After getting shot in the stomach, the injured assistant commissioner was taken to the DHQ hospital and underwent an operation.

    Along with AC Manan, three more individuals were injured in the firing.

    The AC Revenue Department was later airlifted to the provincial capital, Peshawar, via helicopter following his operation.

    Background


    The current wave of clashes in Kurram started after an attack on a convoy in Lower Kurram’s Bagan area, killing over 40 people in November. At least 130 lives have been lost since then.

    The security situation led to the closure of a main road for weeks, resulting in a massive shortage of essential goods and medicines in the Parachinar region.

    Although a ceasefire deal was signed between warring tribes on January 1, attacks on an aid convoy this month put peace efforts on hold.

    A convoy on January 4 was attacked near the same Bagan area, injuring former DC Javedullah Mehsud and leaving the aid mission stranded.

    Then, on January 16, an attack on a convoy in Lower Kurram’s Bagan area killed two security officials and injured five.

    A retaliatory attack by local security forces left six attackers dead and 10 injured.

    Bodies of four drivers with their hands tied were recovered by the police; however, five were still missing. Only two out of 35 trucks made it back to Thall, while more than 10 trucks were looted and set on fire.

    The government also started a limited “counter-terrorism operation” in the Lower Kurram tehsil on January 19, but it was concluded after four days.

    It merits mention that despite the peace agreement, the main transportation routes in Kurram have been closed for four months, causing great trouble for the local population. As per official records, only six aid convoys carrying essential supplies and medicines have reached the district.

  • Audio leak features TTP chief telling militants to not use mobile phones

    Audio leak features TTP chief telling militants to not use mobile phones

    An alleged leaked telephonic conversation has revealed new instructions for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, barring them from using mobile phones to avoid getting caught.

    As per the details, TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud can allegedly be heard in the leaked audio, directing militants to not use their mobile phones continuously to avoid detection.

    “Inform all fighters that there is using a mobile phone continuously is not allowed… use your phones occasionally, but turn them off immediately afterwards as we are under surveillance and are being investigated,” he can allegedly be heard as saying.

    The audio comes to light a day after security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in North Waziristan, killing six militants.

    The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), in a statement issued Thursday, said that the IBO was conducted on the night of January 29-30 after reports of presence of terrorists in the Mir Ali area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) North Waziristan district.

    Major Hamza Israr, 29, who was leading his troops from the front and Sepoy Muhammad Naeem, 26, embraced martyrdom during exchange of fire with Khawarij, the military’s media wing said. “The security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country, and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” it added.

    It merits a mention that in July 2024, another leaked audio allegedly featured Mehsud as instructing his henchmen to attack in educational institutions, healthcare facilities and the homes of military and police officers within Pakistan.

    The telephonic conversation revolved around Mehsud’ directives on challenging the security situation in the country, outlining methods for disrupting peace and order. He was also heard as ordering his men to carry out a couple of attacks without claiming responsibility for them, causing panic.

    In the audio, Mehsud could also be heard as instructing his lieutenants to keep the conversation confidential and ensure that no one else was aware of the plan.

    Ambush In another shootout, two security personnel were martyred, and seven terrorists were killed in North Waziristan, Dawn News reported while citing local sources.

    The shootout took place after the terrorists ambushed a security forces’ convoy, which was going from Datta Khel camp to Ghundi post.

    No official statement was issued by the ISPR about the attack till the filing of this report.

    Since the start of this month, security forces have conducted numerous operations in KP, which has seen a sharp uptick in terror attacks in the past two years.

  • ‘Keep quiet… you talk too much’: American woman snaps at Ramzan Chhipa during presser

    ‘Keep quiet… you talk too much’: American woman snaps at Ramzan Chhipa during presser

     
     
    Onijah Andrew Robinson, an American woman who traveled to Pakistan for a failed online romance, snapped at social worker Ramzan Chippa on Friday at the Chippa Foundation’s Headquarters in Karachi.  Amidst tense atmosphere, she told Ramzan Chhipa to “Keep quiet” and accused  him of talking too much. 
     
     
     
    The rude remarks sparked heated debates, with Ramzan, the head of the Chhipa Foundation, calling her mentally unstable.
     
     
    She said, “I request the government to give me $100, 000, I want to go to Dubai with my husband.”
     
    Onijah insisted that $20,000 should be given to her, with the remainder allocated to improving Karachi’s infrastructure, particularly its roads and cleanliness. 
     
     
     
    “This entire situation is damaging Pakistan’s image,” Chhipa said, urging Ahmed Nidal Memon and his family to step forward and resolve the matter.
     
     
     
    The drama unfolded further when Ramzan Chhipa personally intervened, bringing Onijah to the Chhipa Foundation’s headquarters from Tipu Sultan Police Station. He revealed that Onijah had not slept for three days and was struggling with her health.
     
     
     
    “She is like my sister, and we will take care of her,”  Chhipa added, ensuring her safety and comfort with the help of Chhipa’s female volunteers.
     
     
    As this unusual story continues, some well-known figures have shared their thoughts. Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori and Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab also commented on Onija situation, who became the talk of the town for coming to Karachi in search of love.
     
     
    Kamran Tessori remarked, “People go abroad to acquire an American passport, but look at our talented young men who, along with an American passport, end up leaving a woman on the payment .”
     
    Meanwhile, Murtaza Wahab, talked about the generosity of Karachi’s people. “Karachiites have big hearts. People go to the United States, and we invite others here,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Onijah has been receiving marriage proposals from all over Pakistan as her story continues to capture attention.

  • US gearing up to deport THESE Pakistani immigrants

    US gearing up to deport THESE Pakistani immigrants

    As the Donald Trump administration in the United States (US) gears up to send illegal immigrants packing, the Foreign Office (FO) has vowed to assist any Pakistanis affected by the newly-signed executive order.

    Days after assuming office as the 47th US president, Trump, in line with his electioneering rhetoric, has signed a flurry of executive orders related to immigration and deportation. While most of the orders are already being litigated in courts, a significant spike in arrests and deportations has left migrants concerned.

    Reacting to the development and possible deportation of Pakistani nationals illegally settled in the US, FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan, in his weekly press briefing on Thursday, said that Pakistan and the US remained in touch about illegal immigrants, but the exact number of affected Pakistanis was unknown.

    He said the possible deportations were a part of the executive order, adding that the government would offer support to such Pakistanis with the help of the foreign ministry.

    To a question about Afghan nationals stuck in Pakistan after the suspension of the US resettlement programme, the FO spokesperson said that almost 80,000 had been taken by various countries but around 40,000 were still present in the country.

    Confirming that the FO received Trump’s executive order on January 20 regarding the suspension of the US Refugee Admission Programme, Khan expressed hope that the programme would soon be resumed so that the remaining Afghan refugees could be resettled as per commitments by the US government.

    The FO spokesperson also said that Pakistan had sufficient evidence of presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan and that they were using the weapons left behind US forces for terrorist activities on its soil. He also reminded Kabul of its responsibility to act against such groups.

    Commenting on the boat capsizing incident in Morocco, Khan said the foreign ministry was coordinating for the repatriation of 22 Pakistani survivors.

    Said individuals are being returned to Pakistan in batches after thorough investigation, he said and added that the first batch had already arrived in Islamabad.

    Rejecting reports about Pak-China relations turning sour, the spokesperson emphasised that the friendship between the two countries was strong, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the One-China policy.

    Furthermore, he highlighted India’s human rights violations in occupied Kashmir and accused New Delhi of sponsoring international terrorism. He stressed that Pakistan condemned terrorism in all its forms.

  • Maj Gen (r) Zafar Ullah appointed chief of cannabis control authority

    Maj Gen (r) Zafar Ullah appointed chief of cannabis control authority

    Major General (Retd) Zafar Ullah Khan has been appointed as the Director General (DG) of the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority (CCRA).

    The Cabinet Secretariat Establishment Division issued a notification dated January 29, which read, “The Prime Minister [Shehbaz Sharif] has been pleased to approve the appointment of Major General (Retd) as Director General Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority (CCRA) under Cabinet Division.”

    As per the notification, Zafar Ullah Khan, Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military), was appointed under Section 7(1) of the CCRA Act, 2024, which reads, “There shall be a Director General of the authority who shall be appointed by the Prime Minister at such remuneration and on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by regulations.”

    CCRA is the regulatory body responsible for overseeing the cultivation, processing, and sale of cannabis products in Pakistan. The authority is responsible for the issuance of licenses, setting standards, and enforcement of regulations to ensure the industry’s compliance with international conventions and national laws.

    The authority was established in March 2024 after an ordinance was officially promulgated by then-President Arif Alvi.  

    In September 2024, the National Assembly (NA) passed the CCRA Bill 2024 to regulate cannabis cultivation and the sale of its extracts for medicinal use.

    According to the text of the bill, cannabis was defined as “resin (charas) that is, the separated resin, whether crude or purified, obtained from the cannabis plant or leaves of the cannabis plant and also includes concentrated preparation and resin known as hashish oil or liquid hashish.”

    Cannabis was further defined as “the flowering or fruiting tops of the cannabis plant excluding the seed and leaves when not accompanied by the tops from which the resin has not been extracted, by whatever name they may be designated or known, and include all forms known as bhang, siddhi or ganja.”

    Earlier, the federal government had removed DG Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Ahmed Jahangir and reassigned him as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Establishment Division.

    “With the approval of the Federal Government, Mr Ahmad Ishaque Jehangir, a BS-21 Officer of [the] Police Service of Pakistan, presently serving as Director General, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), under [the] Interior Division, is transferred and posted as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in Establishment Division, with immediate effect and until further orders,” a notification read.

    Geo News, while citing sources, reported that the failure of several FIA officials and other authorities concerned with stopping the cases of human trafficking led to Jahangir’s dismissal.

  • Justice Mansoor Ali Shah should be Prime Minister: Absar Alam

    Justice Mansoor Ali Shah should be Prime Minister: Absar Alam

    Senior journalist Absar Alam, while appearing on the Samaa News Podcast series on January 29, stated that Justice Mansoor Ali Shah should become the Prime Minister of Pakistan, citing his “expertise in every field.”

    “The position of Chief Justice of Pakistan would have been too small for a man of his [Justice Mansoor] stature. He is a diamond in our society. He should become the PM of Pakistan, join a political party, or make his own,” he said.

    “After hearing his recent speech, I realised that the man has expertise in fields like science, climate change, public transport, waste management, solid waste management, agriculture, finance, and even Islamic Sukuk bonds. He knows what Malaysia is doing, what Rwanda is doing… He has expertise in every subject of the world. And the same man has such brilliant English that he should be our leader,” he added.

    Alam shared his opinion when criticising Pakistani authorities’ lack of seriousness in addressing the Chinese government’s concerns about their citizens’ safety in Pakistan.

    “This is highly unfortunate because the people responsible for protecting foreign interests in our country are mostly focused on politics. In fact, everyone who is responsible for their jobs in Pakistan is focused on everything except their required job,” he said.

    “We should have such a Hollywood-like leader who has expertise in every matter except the one job he is getting paid for by taxpayers’ money. Our Generals, who have now gone back home, became foreign policy experts; our judges became administration and technology experts; our politicians kept increasing their salaries; our journalists, anchors, and YouTubers kept lying to spread hate…” opined the senior journalist.

    Absar Alam was referring to Justice Mansoor Ali Shah’s recent address on January 28 at a ceremony in Karachi, where he talked about multiple issues, including climate change and Islamic banking in Pakistan.

    The event was organised by AlBarka Forum for Islamic Economy, a think tank specialising in Islamic economy. In a post shared by the AlBarka Foundation on its Instagram page, the caption stated: “During the opening ceremony, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Senior Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, intersected the concepts of climate change, climate justice and Islamic finance in his presentation, highlighting that water security is the first concern need to be faced, followed by agriculture and food security, disaster risk reduction, health, and urban planning and infrastructure as listed by The National Adaptation Plan.”

  • ‘Donald Trump quite likely to build Trump Tower in Pakistan,’ says Umar Cheema

    ‘Donald Trump quite likely to build Trump Tower in Pakistan,’ says Umar Cheema

    Prominent journalist Umar Cheema stated on Wednesday that United States (US) President Donald Trump might build the Trump Tower in Pakistan, given the US President’s ally, Gentry Beach’s, interest in investing in Pakistan.

    Speaking on his YouTube channel, Cheema, while discussing the US President’s ally’s interest in revolutionising the real estate sector in Pakistan, observed that Trump, through Beach’s investment, is quite likely to build the Trump Tower in Pakistan, as many countries, including Dubai, have such a tower.

    The journalist opined that constructing the Trump Tower in Pakistan would be a good deal for the incumbent government as it would bring significant investment to the country, adding that Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif’s government would be able to convey to the masses that they had engaged the US President.

    A high-level US investment delegation, led by Beach, is in Pakistan for a two-day visit aimed at strengthening economic and bilateral ties.

    The visit comes shortly after the new US administration took office and is being seen as a significant diplomatic and economic breakthrough. During their stay, the delegation is set to finalise investment deals, opening avenues for collaboration in key sectors, including energy, technology, and infrastructure.

    Cheema dismissed the PTI supporter’s claim that the Texas hedge fund manager has no relation with the US President. “He [Gentry Beach] is the Trump’s fundraiser,” he said.

    The journalist further revealed that the US billionaire investor is very close to Trump’s family, adding, “Beach was the class fellow of the US President’s son, Donald Trump Jr., at the University of Pennsylvania[…]Beach is the business partner of Trump Jr, and both also hunt together.”

    Beach, while speaking to a private news outlet on Wednesday, discussed President Donald Trump’s aide Richard Grenell’s recent tweets regarding former premier Imran Khan’s release.

    “Richard Grenell is one of the finest Americans that I have ever met. He gets more done in a week than most people do in a year. He is absolutely effective, incredibly smart and humble. I am in awe of Ambassador Grenell. I would say I do believe he may have been misled around some of these issues by certain individuals,” he said.

    Beach further claimed that there is a lobby in the US that spends $2 to $3 million per month “related to Imran Khan”. “I am not an expert on these things, but I do believe that Grenell has a better understanding of the true evidence today than before. He has a better understanding now,” he added.

    Following the crackdown by security forces on PTI demonstrators on November 26 in Islamabad, former US ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account in support of Imran Khan, writing, “Free Imran Khan!”.

    Meanwhile, President Trump’s close aide has reportedly deleted many of his posts supporting Khan.

  • Terrorists demand prisoner exchange for releasing atomic energy workers

    Terrorists demand prisoner exchange for releasing atomic energy workers

    Prominent journalist Azaz Syed revealed on Wednesday that Fitna Al Khawarij, commonly known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), allegedly kidnapped 17 workers of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Lakki Marwat district on January 9.

    Speaking on the YouTube channel Talk SHOCK, Syed disclosed that the Khawarij are demanding the release of their members from the Law Enforcement Agency (LEA) and police in exchange for the PAEC workers’ release.

    On January 9, 17 PAEC workers, including a coach driver, were abducted at gunpoint in KP’s Lakki Marwat district.

    District police spokesperson Shahid Marwat had said, “Around 9am on Thursday, 17 workers, including a driver, involved in a mining project were travelling in a minibus when they were stopped and taken away at gunpoint by some men on Dara Tang Road in Lakki Marwat.”

    Hours after the incident, videos purportedly showing the abducted workers surfaced on social media, with the workers appealing to the government to meet the militants’ demands for their release.

    According to Syed, Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) member Naseer Turab was involved in reconciliation efforts with the Khawarij and the government to secure the release of the PAEC workers.

    Meanwhile, Syed claimed that Pakistan allegedly conducted an airstrike on the terrorists’ hideout, where the PAEC workers were being held captive.

    The journalist stated that the Khawarij handed over the dead body of a PAEC worker, along with a driver who was still alive. The terrorists claimed the death was the result of the alleged airstrike.

    The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has not issued any statement regarding the targeting of these hideouts.

    According to Dawn News, the deceased was a contract worker for PAEC named Rehanullah, whose body was found in the rugged terrain of the remote Zareefwaal area in Lakki Marwat district on Saturday.

    After medico-legal formalities at the hospital, Rehanullah’s body was handed over to his relatives. He was laid to rest in a local graveyard, and his funeral prayers were attended by a large number of people from across the district.

    On Monday, thousands of people protested against the delay in the safe recovery of the abducted PAEC workers in front of the main gate of the District Headquarters Complex, Lakki Marwat.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat also participated in the protest, urging people to set aside political affiliations and unite for peace.

    Later, one of the speakers, Naseer Turab, warned that if the terrorists did not release the hostages within three days, the tribesmen would come out with weapons and “launch an action” against them.

  • American woman’s search for love leaves Karachi police struggling

    American woman’s search for love leaves Karachi police struggling

    A trans-continental love story that started online has now turned into a major headache for Karachi police.  American national Onijah Andrew Robinson flew to Pakistan earlier this week to marry her boyfriend but things took a dramatic turn when the man she came for ghosted her.

    She arrived in Karachi hoping to meet Nidal Memon, who she says she fell in love with after online interactions.

    However, when she reached his apartment in the Garden area, she found the door locked. Instead of leaving, she sat in the parking area and refused to leave until she met him.

    Karachi police initially moved her to a women’s police station, but after she created a fuss, they had to bring her back to the apartment complex.

    At first, she demanded $5,000, but later, she raised the amount to $20,000 along with Pakistani citizenship.

    ASP Defense Faiha Sodhar stated that the woman appeared to be mentally unstable and was being moved to a secure location for her safety. Meanwhile US diplomatic sources acknowledged the situation but refused to comment.

    The Pakistani man at the center of the love story has been missing since Onijah arrived in the country. No one has seen him, and it’s unclear if he will ever meet the woman who traveled across the world for him.

    The unexpected love story has now turned into a legal and security nightmare for authorities, leaving many wondering what happens next.

    Earlier,the American woman, who was dumped by her “online” boyfriend in Pakistan, has refused to return home, it has emerged.

    Onijah Andrew Robinson had on October 11 reached Karachi to marry 19-year-old Nidal Memon whom she met on social media. She had become distraught after the boy’s parents refused to get the two married, leading to a flood of her videos and pictures from the airport on the internet.

    According to reports, her stay in Karachi extended beyond her visa’s validity, leaving her stranded. Eventually, an NGO provided financial assistance and a ticket for her return. However, at Jinnah International Airport, she refused to go back, delaying Qatar Airways flight QR 611 to New York via Doha by 36 minutes.

    Reports quoted officials as saying that she first declined immigration and later refused to board the aircraft.

    Despite police and the Airport Security Force (ASF) escorting her to the departure lounge, she resisted boarding, citing various excuses. Security protocols prevented authorities from forcing her onto the plane.

    After months of struggle in Karachi, she was handed over to airport police when her visa expired. She was also admitted to the airport emergency clinic due to a flu before her scheduled departure.

    After several hours of efforts by authorities to send Robinson back to her country, a two-member team from the US Consulate arrived at the airport. In a discussion with airport officials, the US Consulate’s team said that its aim was to convince Robinson to return home.

    However, they insisted that they could not force her to leave if she did not want to go. Later, police revealed that Robinson refused to seek help from the team and took off in a taxi to an unknown location.

    Reports quoted her as saying that she was going to her husband.