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Category: National

  • WhatsApp group admin arrested for ‘insulting’ Maryam Nawaz

    WhatsApp group admin arrested for ‘insulting’ Maryam Nawaz

    A WhatsApp group administrator in Pakpattan was arrested on Friday for allegedly violating the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (Peca) by allowing an insulting post against Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz to be shared in the group.

    According to a First Information Report (FIR) lodged at Farid Nagar police station on Thursday, a post deemed derogatory of Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz with “dirty language” was created and uploaded to a WhatsApp group.

    The suspect “deliberately uploaded an immoral, insulting post on social media, while the [group admin], knowing that the said post was immoral, offensive and illegal, did not delete it, but rather gave the opportunity to other group members to see the post,” the FIR read, alleging that the admin was trying to “spread chaos among the public”.

    The suspect and the group admin were nominated in a case under Section 20 (Offences against the dignity of a natural person) of Peca and Section 509 (Insulting modesty or causing sexual harassment) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

    Meanwhile, Pakpattan District Police Officer (DPO) Javed Chaddar confirmed in a statement that the arrest of the group admin is the first case registered under the Peca Act in Pakpattan.

    The DPO Pakpattan said, “A suspect posted a malicious and insulting post against the chief minister of Punjab in the WhatsApp group,” adding that the group administrator has been arrested.

    The DPO took notice of the post once it went viral on social media and ordered Farid Nagar police to track down and arrest the group admin and the suspected user who uploaded the post, the statement said.

    “Further investigation is underway,” the statement concluded.

    Peca has been dubbed a “black and draconian law” by critics who say that it was aimed to target journalists, politicians, and rights activists.

    The National Assembly on Thursday passed the controversial Peca amendment bill to the country’s cybercrime laws amid a walkout by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers and journalists from the proceedings.

    The bill proposes a new provision, Section 26(A), to PECA to penalise perpetrators of ‘fake news’ online, which states: “Whoever intentionally disseminates, publicly exhibits, or transmits any information through any information system, that he knows or has reason to believe to be false or fake and likely to cause or create a sense of fear, panic or disorder or unrest in general public or society shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend upto three years or with fine which may extend to Rs2m or with both.”

    The bill proposes that victims of fake and false information would be able to approach the authority to remove or block access to the content in question, adding that the authority would issue orders no later than 24 hours after the request.

  • Foreign tourist deeply touched by the kindness of Pakistanis

    Foreign tourist deeply touched by the kindness of Pakistanis

    A young foreign tourist who goes by the handle Adham Travels on Instagram has shared a video showcasing how kind Pakistanis were to him during his visit in the summer of 2024. He recently shared a three-part series of videos on his Instagram page, naming them the “Top 5 Things You Didn’t Know!”

    He recalls the moments that “totally changed” his perspective about the country, “from the clean streets to the breathtaking nature and most importantly, the incredible people.”

    Having visited more than 20 countries, Adham deemed Pakistanis as “some of the most hospitable, most caring people in the world.”

    “It would take me days to tell all the stories of the kindness that I was shown in this country, but I will name a few situations that really blew me away,” he added.

    One Pakistani took a day off from work to take Adham along on his bike to his favourite sites in the north so he could “leave the country with a positive impression.”

    Another man gave the young traveller the keys to his holiday home so that he could “relax and take a break from my intense travels” and provided him with food and a helper “all for free.”

    “Pakistan really surprised me in the best ways possible. I hope this video gave you a glimpse of what makes this country so special.” He concluded his video with the hope that he had helped dismiss preconceived notions about the country.

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFImNz_IatD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

    Spreading kindness

    Earlier this month, a foreigner on a motorcycle trip to Pakistan was taken by surprise by a sweet interaction with a Pakistani traffic police official.


    Tourist Jacob Lum, who is from the United States of America, is on a year-long trip on his motorcycle. He is currently visiting Pakistan, a place he referred to as the most “underrated country” in the world.


    Jacob took to Instagram and shared a video of an interaction with a traffic warden in Lahore who stopped his vehicle because it is prohibited to drive a three-wheeler in the specific region, yet he was allowed to go ahead because he was a “guest.”

    The video features a middle-aged traffic warden who is seen admonishing the driver for taking the tourists on Mall Road when he knows it is prohibited in the area. However, he turns to Jacob and tells him politely, “We stop it only because it is dangerous.” He also adds, “But you are our guest, so I will allow him to take you to the city of Lahore.” Jacob thanked him, and the officer added: “I think you will enjoy your trip in Pakistan.”


    The video also shows the traffic warden welcoming Jacob, asking him to visit Minar-e-Pakistan, Badshahi Mosque, Tollington Market and other Mughal and British heritage sites in the city and warning him against eating street food because it is “unhygienic”.


    Jacob wrote in the caption, “This video is a great example of the kindness of the Pakistani people. This interaction was one of the best I have had with the police. He was there to enforce the rules that 3 wheeler rickshaws (motorcycle/ tuktuk) are not allowed in the city. And instead of removing us from the taxi ride and forcing us to get another one, he just scolded the driver and then permitted him to carry on “because we are guests”. I thought that was really nice of him and he quickly changed the conversation to welcoming us to Pakistan and providing recommendations about what to see in the city of Lahore.”


    Jacob also posted about how has had multiple experiences with the police in other countries and while some just want to exert control, extort money or just show their dominance; most are essentially kind yet he chose to show the interaction with the Pakistani police officer because that won him over. Jacob recounted that this was a “great start to my first day in the city and I felt extremely welcomed by the authorities.”


    “In addition to the police officer the immigration / customs office was also super friendly and very happy to welcome us to Pakistan,” the American tourist made it a point to mention.


    On a lighter note he added, “He also advised us to not eat the street food Ironically we were just taking the taxi back from going out searching for street food.”


    Jacob had previously shared other videos from his visits to Northern areas of the country especially Hunza valley and the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region. “I see why this land is being fought over,” he captioned the video he shot in GB.

  • VIDEO: Bilawal loses cool at man interrupting media talk

    VIDEO: Bilawal loses cool at man interrupting media talk

    Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, was addressing the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Amendment Bill 2025 when a heckler interrupted him mid-conversation, leaving him visibly frustrated and briefly shifting the focus of the discussion.

    “It would have been great if the [mainstream] media and digital media representatives had been taken into confidence about the PECA bill… the government must build consensus before taking any further actions,” he said, addressing reporters on Friday at Parliament House.

    Commenting on the recently passed 26th Constitutional Amendment, the PPP chairman claimed that no one can reverse the constitutional amendment except parliament.

    Bilawal also confirmed that he was going to attend breakfast at the invitation of United States (US) President Donald Trump in a personal capacity.

    “I will definitely go for breakfast, a practice that’s continued from my mother’s tenure. There’s a possibility of holding meetings with friends of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto there [as well].

    “Neither am I a minister nor a government official, so this [trip of mine] is not official or as a representative of the government,” he clarified.

    It merits mentioning that Bilawal and incumbent President Asif Ali Zardari attended the pre-inauguration oath ceremony of then-US President-elect Trump in Washington, DC, in 2017.

    In response to a question about the new US administration inviting India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar but not Pakistan for Trump’s oath-taking ceremony, Bilawal said it was essential that a representative was invited from India as well after extending an invitation to the Chinese president, given the geopolitical situation between the US and China.

    “Pakistan’s foreign policy is intact. Pakistan’s nuclear assets and missile technology are gifts from Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto […] PPP will never compromise on Pakistan’s deterrence,” he said.

    Earlier, the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan, spoke to a delegation of the Parliamentary Reporters Association Pakistan (PRAP) in Islamabad and stated that the latest amendments introduced to the PECA law would be used as a weapon.

    Omar Ayub, while terming the PECA amendment bill a draconian law aimed at restricting freedom of speech, stated that this act would only impose further restrictions on media freedom in Pakistan.

  • ‘Black law’: Civil society reacts to controversial PECA amendments

    ‘Black law’: Civil society reacts to controversial PECA amendments

    Journalist associations and digital rights associations have expressed concern about the recently passed Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2025, dubbing it the “black law” that would undermine freedom of expression.

    The National Assembly approved the controversial PECA bill on Thursday despite a walkout by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers and journalists from the proceedings.

    The bill proposes a new provision, Section 26(A), to PECA to penalise perpetrators of ‘fake news’ online, which states: “Whoever intentionally disseminates, publicly exhibits, or transmits any information through any information system, that he knows or has reason to believe to be false or fake and likely to cause or create a sense of fear, panic or disorder or unrest in general public or society shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend upto three years or with fine which may extend to Rs2m or with both.”

    The bill proposes that victims of fake and false information would be able to approach the authority to remove or block access to the content in question, adding that the authority would issue orders no later than 24 hours after the request.

    One of the key provisions of the new amendments is the formation of the Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA), which will have the authority to remove prohibited content and take action against individuals who share such material.

    The media bodies criticised the Peca amendment in a statement, saying that the amendment draft was not shared with them prior to the approval from the National Assembly.

    The Journalists’ Rights Group bodies, including the Joint Action Committee (JAC), the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), and the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), issued a joint statement condemning the amendment. 

    “JAC and its members have not been shared with any draft as yet. Before studying the draft none of the JAC members are in a position to comment on the proposed amendments,” the statement read.

    The statement further read, “Such amendments aim to suppress the freedom of the media, especially social media.”

    “The government should come to its senses and immediately withdraw the undemocratic and unnecessary amendment, otherwise journalists across Pakistan will protest vigorously,” the statement added. 

    Meanwhile, the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, spoke to reporters at the press gallery in Parliament House on Thursday, saying that the bill aimed to regulate social media and would not target “working journalists.”

    “Anyone who is a working journalist will not be affected by this bill. This bill has been put forward because the Federal Investigation Agency does not have the capacity to counter child pornography and deepfakes,” Tarar said.

  • When was Imran Khan arrested? MCQ in Punjab’s recruitment guide sparks outrage

    When was Imran Khan arrested? MCQ in Punjab’s recruitment guide sparks outrage

    Social media erupted with outrage when a Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) in Punjab’s recruitment guide for constables about former premier Imran Khan’s arrest in the Al Qadir Trust case came to light. 

    In a widely circulated undated video, a person can be seen reading the MCQ about the date on which the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was arrested in 2023, triggering wide-spread violent protests. “When did the National Accountability Bureau arrest Imran Khan inside the Islamabad High Court in the corruption allegations in the Al Qadir Trust?” 

    Four options can be seen in the guide given below the MCQ content: (A) May 9, 2023, (B) May 11, 2023, (C) May 10, 2023, (D) None of these


    PTI social media users were quick to react, with some alleging that the Punjab government was responsible for including the MCQ in the guide, while other users argued that the Punjab government had nothing to do with it.

    A social media user wrote, “The Punjab government has included a question about Imran Khan’s arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case in the recruitment guide for constables. Aspiring candidates are memorising the question. Shame, shame, shame.”

    Another user wrote, “They have been stooped so low in the jealousy of Imran Khan.”

    Journalist Shahid Aslam shared the short video clip on his X handle, stressing that one should not stoop so low in political differences.

    However, another netizen opined that it was not the Punjab government but rather the guide publishers that had put the MCQ about Imran Khan’s arrest date in the recruitment guide.

    On May 9, 2023, NAB apprehended Imran Khan from Islamabad High Court in connection with the corruption cases in the Al Qadir Trust case.

    On January 17, 2025, an accountability court convicted Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, in the said case. Judge Nasir Javed Rana sentenced 14 years and seven years in jail for the former premier and his wife, respectively.

    As per the verdict, the Imran Khan was convicted for “corrupt practices” and “misuse of authority”, while the first lady was convicted for “involvement in illegal activities”. The judge directed the authorities to give the Al-Qadir Trust University in the federal government’s custody.

    The 148-page verdict mentioned that Bushra’s role was limited to aiding and abetting the corruption offences, which is considered a mitigating circumstance in her sentencing.

  • PTI social media turns on its own leaders as Sher Afzal Marwat decries media coverage

    PTI social media turns on its own leaders as Sher Afzal Marwat decries media coverage

    Firebrand Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat has told journalists that the party’s social media followers have turned on their own leaders.

    Marwat, often known for sparring with other PTI leaders, referred to a recent development in which Imran Khan prohibited Marwat from visiting him in jail on January 23.

    The News reported that Sher Afzal Marwat attempted to visit the party founder at Adiala Jail but was denied entry yesterday. Officials cited explicit instructions from the PTI founder, who clarified that Marwat was not his legal counsel and should not be granted access.

    However, Marwat denied the news, stating: “As a protest, I am boycotting national media for 15 days as a protest against Imran Khan’s news about me. Social media also ran this news. There are hundreds of news channels but nobody bothered to ask my perspective, I was not contacted.”


    “The social media which aligns itself with PTI has now gone after its own leaders. This is not normal that whenever someone in the party gets in a mood, they start disparaging other party leaders,” stated Sher Afzal Marwat.

    Marwat has also been issued show cause notices multiple times by the PTI, with the most recent one issued on January 13.

    The party leader was directed to respond to allegations of issuing statements against party policy and the party’s secretary-general Salman Akram Raja in the most recent show cause notice.

    Marwat also requested the media to contact him regarding any news related to him for authenticating the story. 

    “The fake news that has been running against me since yesterday on electronic media and social media. My community, my tribe and all my supporters are getting angry because of the disrespect being meted out to me,” exclaimed the PTI leader.

     Social media users mostly criticised Marwat for his views, with one user writing: “What do you do yourself? Have you followed some party discipline? On social media, they are just common people, not MNAs or MPAs. No restrictions can be imposed on them like this, but you are a party official and should adhere to discipline.”

    Another user wrote: “We Pashtuns are not angry at all, rather this decision has brought life back into our lives.”

  • Imran Khan tells Malik Riaz to name and shame ‘corrupt’ judges, generals, politicians

    Imran Khan tells Malik Riaz to name and shame ‘corrupt’ judges, generals, politicians

    Days after property tycoon Malik Riaz posted a warning on his official X (formerly Twitter) account in response to a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) press release, former premier Imran Khan asked Riaz to disclose the names of the politicians, judges and generals who had received benefits from him. 

    Founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan’s X (formerly Twitter) handle posted, “I ask Malik Riaz to disclose which judges, generals and politicians received bribes and other benefits from him over the last 30 years so that the nation knows who has been involved in dirty deals. The world should know how clean those who lecture about the bogus Al-Qadir (University) Trust case really are.”

    The controversial property tycoon, in response to the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) press release on Tuesday against his Dubai-based project, took to X on Wednesday warning, “I am holding back, but there is a storm within me. If this dam breaks, then everyone’s façade will shatter. Don’t forget that the secrets of the past 25–30 years are preserved along with evidence.”


     
    Riaz stressed that he will neither be used against anyone nor will anyone blackmail him, adding, “My decision yesterday was the same as it is today: no matter how much oppression you inflict, I (Malik Riaz) will not testify.”

    According to a statement posted Imran’s X account, negotiations with the incumbent government were scuttled after a raid on the residence of Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza, an ally of the PTI and its spokesperson for the negotiation committee.

    “We are immediately discontinuing all talks (with the government). A raid on the home of our ally, who is the spokesperson of our negotiations team, is an attack on our negotiations committee itself. Such a duplicitous and malicious negotiation process cannot yield anything positive,” reads Imran Khan’s statement.

    Incarcerated Imran Khan reiterated demands to constitute a judicial commission comprising of the three most senior judges of the Supreme Court to probe the May 9, 2023 and November 26, 2024, incidents. “Any other commission would not be acceptable to us,” he added.

    The former premier also claimed that for the sake of the rule of law, he had directed his party to take other opposition parties into confidence. “We have been working on a grand national agenda against the fake government. There is instability in the country,” Khan added.

    Earlier in the day, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan told reporters outside Adiala Jail Rawalpindi that the jailed party founder had directed them to call off negotiations over the government’s failure to form judicial commissions.

  • Reason behind Bilawal’s sudden weight loss revealed

    Reason behind Bilawal’s sudden weight loss revealed

    People have been speculating about the possible reasons behind Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s drastic weight loss. However, journalist Imtiaz Chandio has revealed the cause.

    Citing a source from Bilawal House, Chandio took to X (formerly Twitter) and disclosed that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is using insulin after being recently diagnosed with diabetes. He added that the Chairman PPP’s weight loss is a result of using insulin.

    “Bilawal Bhutto Sahib [Chairman PPP] has not lost weight on his own. Rather, he has been diagnosed with diabetes. His weight has decreased due to the use of insulin. May Allah grant them good health,” the journalist wrote on X while sharing the Chairman PPP photo.

    Diabetes is a long-term condition caused by excess glucose, a type of sugar, in the blood. There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is far more common than Type 1.

    Recently, Bhutto’s weight loss became a topic of widespread discussion among social media users, with some even comparing him to Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor.

    In January 2025, during his appearance at the wedding of Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah’s daughter, netizens first noticed Chairman PPP’s physical transformation and praised his fitness.

    An X user, while sharing a latest picture of Bhutto, wrote, “Bilawal lost so much weight. Future PM Bilawal Bhutto is literally looking more handsome than Ranbir Kapoor.”

    “Mashaallah! Our boy is way more handsome than Bollywood actors, so please stop comparing him with Ranbir Kapoor,” another user commented while complimenting Chairman PPP’s stunning look.

    One wrote that Bilawal is gearing up for the next Prime Minister with a heroic look.

    Some netizens, however, opined that Bhutto underwent surgery to achieve such physical transformation.

    A netizen wrote, “Diabetes SE itna jaldi wazan Kam ni hota is NE bariatric surgery karwai ho gi jis ma stomach Ka size Kam Kia JATA hy us SE Boht jaldi wazan Kam ho JATA hy. (Diabetes alone doesn’t lead to such rapid weight loss. He must have undergone bariatric surgery, which reduces the size of the stomach, resulting in significant and quick weight loss).”

  • Khan has made a big decision, Barrister Gohar confirms

    Khan has made a big decision, Barrister Gohar confirms

    Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Barrister Gohar Khan has stated that party founder Imran Khan has called off ongoing negotiations as the government failed to establish the judicial commission to probe the May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024 events.

    Speaking to reporters outside Adiala Jail Rawalpindi on Thursday, the Chairman of PTI stated, “If the government today does not announce the formation of a judicial commission comprising three most senior judges either from the Supreme Court or from the High Court to probe the two events, the dialogues will be called off.”

    “I wished for the negotiation to progress with the government, but political differences run so deep that there is no sign of the ice breaking,” Gohar quoted Imran Khan as saying.

    The development comes as negotiations between the Shehbaz Sharif-led government and PTI were initiated in late December to ease political tensions. However, despite the three rounds of talks, PTI complained that their demands had not been addressed.

    The fourth round of talks was expected to take place on January 18 between PTI and the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) led government.

    PTI, in the third round of talks on January 16, had presented its charter of demands before the government negotiation committee, asking for the release of the political prisoners and the formation of a judicial commission to inquire about the May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024 events.

    “We are not waiting for assistance from any foreign country,” Gohar said in reply when a reporter asked whether PTI is anticipating any message from President of United States (US) Donald Trump in the forthcoming days in Imran Khan’s favour.

    Moreover, Gohar claimed that Imran Khan had affirmed that he would fight his cases in Pakistani courts and would secure his release.

    Additionally, the PTI Chairman remarked that PTI would mobilise all opposition political parties, and efforts would be made against an independent judiciary and the 26th Constitutional Amendment.

    The former ruling party, in its written submission to the government’s negotiation committee, said that it wanted the conduct of the proceedings of the May 9, 2023, and November 24, 2024, commissions to be open to the general public as well as the media.

    The party said that it would identify the political prisoners who were arrested following the events of May 9 and November 24 to 27 or any other political event elsewhere.

  • Nadeem Anjum met Malik Riaz for testimony against Imran, claims Azaz Syed

    Nadeem Anjum met Malik Riaz for testimony against Imran, claims Azaz Syed

    Prominent journalist Azaz Syed appeared on a private media channel on Wednesday, alleging that ex-intelligence chief Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmed Anjum once met property tycoon Malik Riaz in Dubai to talk about providing testimony against former Premier Imran Khan in the 190 million-pound case, for which Khan was recently convicted.

    “…There is no doubt that Malik Riaz is under pressure [to testify against Imran Khan]. Nadeem Anjum [former DG ISI] had gone to meet him in Dubai,” Azaz said in reply when asked whether Riaz was bearing pressure of testimony against former PM Imran Khan in the 190 million pounds case.

    Riaz, following the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) press release on Tuesday against his Dubai-based project, took to X (formerly Twitter), warning, “NAB’s baseless press release today is actually a new blackmailing demand. I am holding back, but there is a storm within me. If this dam breaks, then everyone’s façade will shatter. Don’t forget that the secrets of the past 25–30 years are preserved along with evidence.”

    Riaz stressed that he will neither be used against anyone nor will anyone blackmail him, adding, “My decision yesterday was the same as it is today: no matter how much oppression you inflict, I (Malik Riaz) will not testify.”

    NAB on Tuesday cautioned the public against investing in Bahria Town’s new real estate project in Dubai, emphasising that the government was reaching out to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to seek property tycoon Malik Riaz’s extradition through legal avenues. 

    “Mr Malik Riaz is residing in Dubai, UAE. He has recently launched a project for the construction of luxury apartments in Dubai, UAE. The general public at large is hereby advised and warned to refrain from investing in the stated project. If the general public at large invests in the stated project, their actions would tantamount to money laundering, for which they may face criminal/ legal proceedings,” the anti-corruption watchdog said in a press release carried by Radio Pakistan.


    Azaz Syed further claimed that President Asif Ali Zardari had also played a role in attempting to convince Malik Riaz to testify against Imran Khan in the Al Qadir Trust case on one occasion. However, the development could not proceed, Syed said.

    Syed alleged that following the orders of PM Shehbaz Sharif, Malik Riaz’s name was recently removed from the Exit Control List (ECL) along with 300 politicians. “He was a free man; nobody stopped him, so he went abroad,” the journalist added.