Current Final

Category: National

  • £190m case: Here’s how Imran Khan reacted to wife’s conviction in court

    £190m case: Here’s how Imran Khan reacted to wife’s conviction in court

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has reacted to his and his spouse Bushra Bibi’s conviction in the 190-million-pound (Al-Qadir Trust) case. The reaction comes minutes after an accountability court in the federal capital sentenced him to 14 years in prison and his wife to seven years on Friday.

    Khan and Bibi have been fined Rs. 1 million and Rs. 0.5 million, respectively. If they fail to pay the fines, the ex-prime minister will serve an additional six months, while Bushra Bibi will serve three more months.

    According to the verdict, ex-PM Imran Khan has been convicted of “corrupt practices” and “misuse of authority,” while the former First Lady has been sentenced for “involvement in illegal activities.” Accountability court judge Nasir Javed Rana directed the authorities to place the Al-Qadir Trust University in the federal government’s custody.

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

    Following the announcement of the 190-million-pound verdict, she has been taken into custody.

    “Bushra Bibi is entirely innocent in the Al-Qadir Trust case. The only purpose for including her in the case was to increase pressure on me. Even before this, Bushra Bibi was unjustly jailed for nine months,” the official account of former Premier on X (formerly Twitter) posted a message after the Al-Qadir Trust case verdict.

    In October 2024, Bushra Bibi was granted bail after nine months of incarceration in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, in the Tosha Khana case.

    Imran Khan stated in his official X handle: “By convicting me in the baseless Al-Qadir (University) Trust case they [installed regime] will make a mockery of themselves all over the world and cause themselves deep embarrassment. My sentencing is being sought in a case where neither have I derived a single penny of personal gain, nor the government has suffered a single penny of financial loss.” 

    “We will be writing a letter to Justice Aminuddin Khan [the head of the Supreme Court’s Constitutional Bench] to hear our petition about human rights violations. Our innocent people were subjected to brutal mental and physical torture while in military custody. Hearings on our petitions must be made a top priority. As we are not getting justice from any court in Pakistan, we have completed preparations for sending letters to international human rights organizations and to the United Nations in this regard. Qazi Faez Isa and Aamir Farooq have consistently acted as the establishment’s opening batsmen, and the newly formed constitutional bench is merely an extension of this.” read the post on Khan’s X account.

    The £190 million case involves allegations that Imran Khan and others, in 2019, adjusted Rs 50 billion — equivalent to £190 million at the time — sent by Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to the Pakistani government during his tenure as the country’s Prime Minister.

    The amount in question pertains to assets of a property tycoon, which were seized by the NCA during PTI’s rule. The British crime agency had stated that the amount was to be passed to the Government of Pakistan, as its settlement with the Pakistani property tycoon was “a civil matter, and does not represent a finding of guilt.”

  • Barrister Gohar asked Army Chief for one thing, Muneeb Farooq reveals

    Barrister Gohar asked Army Chief for one thing, Muneeb Farooq reveals

    Political analyst and TV host Muneeb Farooq has revealed details of the recent meeting between Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Barrister Gohar Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir. 

    Appearing on a private news outlet, Farooq stated that following the formal meeting between the army chief, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur, Barrister Gohar Khan, and other provincial political leaders in Peshawar Corps Commander House, Gohar and Gandapur, requested General Asim Munir for a separate meeting.

    The political analyst revealed that the PTI chairman, in a brief meeting, presented a single-point agenda, asking the army chief to facilitate the release of incarcerated party founder Imran Khan.

    “We do not want any kind of confrontation with the military,” Muneeb quoted Gohar as saying. He further revealed that Gohar informed the army chief that many people were eager to see a rift between the PTI and the army.

    “During the brief meeting, the army chief did not comment on Imran Khan’s release and the plight of PTI. However, he discussed the security challenges facing Pakistan,” the TV host said.

    Fearing that the PTI Chairman would be trolled, Gohar requested two to three times that pictures of the meeting with the army chief should not be released. Gohar’s picture was not made public. 

    He went on to further reveal that Chairman PTI did not discuss the February 8 elections and the judicial commission regarding the riots of May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024 events; the latter is the key demand of the former ruling party that has been submitted to the government negotiation committee on the third round of meetings. 

    Earlier, the PTI Chairman denied media reports of his meeting with the army chief. However, taking a U-turn in his statement, Gohar, while speaking to the media in the Adiala Jail courtroom on Thursday, confirmed that, indeed, he had held a meeting with General Syed Asim Munir.

    Explaining what had transpired during their rare talk with the COAS, the PTI chairman said that all matters and demands of the party were presented directly to General Asim Munir.

    He termed direct negotiations with the establishment as a positive step towards resolving the ongoing issues. Barrister Gohar further said: “Ali Amin Gandapur and I held a meeting with COAS, during which we outlined all of PTI’s concerns and priorities.”

    Imran Khan confirmed to reporters that Gohar had met the army chief in Peshawar on Thursday. Khan mentioned that his party had long been trying to get the other side on the negotiation table.

  • Over 40 Pakistanis among 50 drowned in Spain bound boat

    Over 40 Pakistanis among 50 drowned in Spain bound boat


    A boat carrying as many as 50 migrants attempting to reach Spain from West Africa has drowned, it emerged Thursday.

    Migrant rights group Walking Borders reported that the tragic boat capsized, leading to fears that missing migrants have died. 

    Notably, Moroccan authorities on Wednesday rescued 36 people from a boat that had departed from Mauritania on January 2 while carrying 86 migrants, including 66 Pakistanis.

    The rights group based in Madrid and Navarra said it had already alerted authorities from all countries involved almost six days ago about the missing boat.

    Another NGO, Alarm Phone, which provides an emergency phone line for migrants lost at sea, also reported that it had alerted Spain’s maritime rescue service on January 12 but made it a point to mention that it had no information about the boat.


    Canary Islands’ regional leader Fernando Clavijo in a post on X (formerly Twitter) expressed sorrow for the victims and urged Spain and Europe to act to prevent further tragedies.


    “The Atlantic cannot continue to be the graveyard of Africa,” Clavijo said on X while adding, “They cannot continue to turn their backs on this humanitarian drama.”


    Walking Borders CEO Helena Maleno said in a post on X that 44 of those who drowned were from Pakistan.


    “They spent 13 days of anguish on the crossing without anyone coming to rescue them,” she said.


    It merits mention that a record 10,457 migrants, or 30 people a day, died trying to reach Spain in 2024, most of them trying to cross the Atlantic route from West African countries such as Mauritania and Senegal to the Canary Islands.

    Last month, a boat capsize incident in Greece consumed 40 lives as rescue efforts by authorities to find survivors ended without any success.


    Officially, Pakistan’s government has confirmed the death of five people belonging to the Sialkot, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, and Narowal districts. 

    Among the five confirmed victims, two belonged to Pasrur, a tehsil of Sialkot, while one each hailed from Gujrat, Narowal, and Mandi Bahauddin. The fifth victim was identified as Muhammad Shabeer of Gakharkey village of Narowal.


    Additionally, locals in Heelan village of Mandi Bahauddin also claimed that five youngsters from their village were also among the missing. The family of another victim named Awais of Uddu Fateh village of Pasrur told the media that he was also missing.

    An earlier report suggested that 47 Pakistanis were among the rescued passengers. 

  • ‘Osama Bin Laden is a martyr’: Anti-Imran Khan ads popup on trucks in US

    ‘Osama Bin Laden is a martyr’: Anti-Imran Khan ads popup on trucks in US

    Amid unprecedented support for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan from officials of Donald Trump’s incoming administration, multiple digital billboard trucks featuring controversial statements of the former premier have popped up across the United States (US).

    Undated videos on social media showed trucks driving around Washington DC among other cities in the US, displaying a digital billboard bearing Khan’s past remarks about the Afghan Taliban and late Al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden.

    “Osama bin Laden is a martyr,” read one of Khan’s statements. During his speech on the floor of the parliament during the 2020 budget session, then-prime minister (PM) Khan had said that Americans came to Abbottabad and “martyred Osama bin Laden”.

    Another statement by Khan displayed on the digital display read, “Taliban’s holy war in Afghanistan is justified by Islamic Law [sic].” The former premier had made the statement in October 2012 when he referred to Taliban’s anti-US fighters as jihadis.

    He had said whoever was fighting for their freedom was participating in jihad, and so the Afghan Taliban’s fight against foreign occupation was also jihad.

    Among other anti-Khan adverts displayed on the trucks was the news of his disqualification by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for lying about Tyrian White, as well as the alleged threats he hurled at police officers in Pakistan.

    With the campaign leaving netizens divided, some say it was planned to malign Khan ahead of Trump’s inauguration, whereas others said it was only a consequence of his “recklessness” since none of the statements were wrongly attributed to him.

    One social media user said such campaigns only affected Pakistan’s reputation on the global stage while another highlighted how supporting an “extremist” like the former Pakistani premier could end up being a “threat to national security”.

    “The diaspora must focus on unity and progress rather than divisive narratives. Let’s channel our energies towards building a stronger Pakistan together,” said one user. Another netizen said that true patriotism was about constructive actions, not blind allegiance. “It’s time to support leaders and initiatives that genuinely prioritise the nation’s welfare.”

    Jailed Khan and his PTI have in recent weeks garnered quite the support from officials of the upcoming US administration amid social media campaigns calling on Trump to push for the release of the ousted former PM.

    While Trump is yet to comment on the issue and Pakistan maintains that Khan’s trials and sentence are an internal matter, the president-elect’s aide on special missions Richard Grenell has been rather vocal in demanding the PTI founder’s freedom.

  • Did Bilawal Bhutto buy ticket to participate in Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony?

    Did Bilawal Bhutto buy ticket to participate in Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony?

    A day after news broke that Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was invited to US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony on January 20, allegations surfaced that he purchased a donation ticket.

    According to media reports, the PPP chairman will depart for Washington in the next few days to attend President-elect Trump’s inauguration.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary Information Shiekh Waqas Akram, while sharing a post about Bilawal Bhutto’s invitation on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, stated that anyone can attend Trump’s inauguration by paying money.

    He wrote, “For your information, anyone can pay and go. They have lots of different packages, including dinners with congressmen and proposed cabinet members.”

    Chief Minister (CM) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur spoke to reporters on Thursday, stating that the White House has not officially invited Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

    “They bought $25,000 donation tickets and are presenting it as if they were privately invited. They are deceiving the nation,” Gandapur said, taking a dig at the PPP Chairman.

    A social media user allegedly wrote that President Asif Ali Zardari used $1 million or more of Pakistani funds to purchase a ticket for Trump’s prestigious event for personal political gain.

    In a reply, another social media user questioned, “Bilawal & Mohsin Naqvi have purchased tickets for the inauguration? Not invited by Trump Team?”

    Secretary General of PTI, Salman Akram Raja, while speaking to reporters at Parliament House on Thursday, stated that 20 party leaders received invitations to Trump’s inauguration ceremony.

    “Twenty of our people have received invitations,” he said in response to whether only the Bhutto scion was invited to Trump’s inauguration ceremony.

    Raja sidestepped the question when asked to reveal the names of party leaders invited to Trump’s inauguration on January 20.

    When asked if Raja and party founder Imran Khan had received invitations, he claimed, “We are not going. However, our party leaders will attend the inauguration ceremony, Inshallah.”

    Major donors to Donald Trump’s inaugural committee are required to contribute twice as much to gain direct access to him and vice-president-elect JD Vance at private events surrounding the swearing-in ceremony, according to fundraising materials reported by The Guardian.

    To briefly interact with Trump and Vance, donors must contribute at least $1m to the committee – the highest-tier ticket package – a marked increase from the previous cycle, when the same access cost $500,000, The Guardian reported.

  • We’re praying Imran Khan gets convicted tomorrow: Aleema Khan

    We’re praying Imran Khan gets convicted tomorrow: Aleema Khan

    Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, while talking to reporters today, stated that the courts would announce punishment for Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust case tomorrow. 

    Imran Khan has faced these cases against him with so much patience while in prison, but you keep bringing up the stories of the deals,” she said, further commending him and adding, “He should be awarded an honourable mention.”

    Aleema also asserted that the cases against Khan could have been completed “within four days, but it has taken them more than a year to drag them out,” adding that “When he [Imran Khan] comes out, we all will find out the legitimacy of these cases.”

    She also said, “We are praying that Imran Khan will be punished tomorrow. Have you ever imagined we would say something like this? After his punishment, the case should be taken out of the jail court and brought to the High Court.”

    The verdict in the £190m Al-Qadir Trust case against Imran Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, was expected to be announced on January 13; however, the verdict was postponed for the third time.

    Judge Nasir Javed Rana cited the absence of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi from appearing before the court in Adiala Jail as the primary reason for the postponement.

    “Bushra Bibi had knowledge of the verdict being announced but did not appear before the court,” Judge Rana said. “The PTI founder was sent a message twice, but he also did not appear in court.”

    The judge also mentioned that he had been present in court since 8:30 am, but “neither the suspects nor their lawyers appeared.” “The decision — fully ready and signed — is with me today,’ he asserted.

    “The suspects were also given numerous chances during the trial,” Judge Rana added. According to the court, Imran had told jail officials that he would not appear in court until his lawyers and family members arrived.

    Previously, the decision in the Al-Qadir Trust case had been postponed twice, on December 23, 2024, and January 6, 2025. It is now expected that the decision will be announced on January 17.

    The Al-Qadir Trust case revolves around the allegation that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi illegally obtained billions of rupees and land worth hundreds of kanals from Bahria Town Ltd to legalise Rs50 billion that was identified and returned to the country by the United Kingdom during the previous PTI government.

  • NADRA to shutdown website, launch mobile app

    NADRA to shutdown website, launch mobile app

    Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has announced that the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) has decided to shut down its Pak ID website and move all services to a mobile app.

    “From January 17 (tomorrow), the Pak ID website will be closed, and all its services will be available through the NADRA mobile app. We are also establishing three new regional centres in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gwadar, and Gilgit-Baltistan.”

    “People, especially overseas Pakistanis, were facing difficulties using the Pak ID website. It was hard to scan and upload fingerprints and required documents. Some fraudsters were helping people create fake identity documents using fake websites. These fraudsters were trying to misuse people’s personal information. To stop these activities, the website will be shut down starting January 17,” Mohsin Naqvi said.

    He added that the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have taken strict action against fraudsters. “NADRA is working with other organizations to ensure action is taken. The NADRA mobile app has been improved, and starting tomorrow, people can use the app for all services,” Naqvi added.

    Previously, 24-hour passport counters had been set up at NADRA mega centres in the country.

  • Two PTI leaders met Army Chief: Azaz Syed

    Two PTI leaders met Army Chief: Azaz Syed

    Veteran journalist Azaz Syed revealed that on Wednesday, Chief Minister (CM) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur and Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Barrister Gohar Khan met with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir to discuss a backdoor channel negotiation.

    Azaz broke the news after Gohar, speaking to reporters at Parliament House Islamabad on Wednesday afternoon, dismissed the claims of a meeting with COAS regarding a backdoor channel negotiation.

    “I have not met the army chief […] People are disseminating such news,” he responded with a smile to the question of whether he held a meeting with General Syed Asim Munir.

    When asked if the PTI had often reiterated that it would negotiate with the party that had a solution, Gohar said, “PTI is negotiating with the government. Pray that our dialogues succeed.”

    It should be mentioned here that PTI will submit its two demands to the government negotiations committee in the third round of negotiations, which will take place today in Parliament House.

    The former ruling party’s two demands are the formation of a judicial commission comprising the Supreme Court’s three most senior judges to probe the May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024, events, along with the release of the political prisoners.

    Azaz, while speaking on the YouTube channel Talk SHOCK, dismissed the claims that only Barrister Gohar Khan had met with COAS, saying, “Both Barrister Gohar and Ali Amin Gandapur met the army chief.” 

    He stated that Barrister Gohar and CM KP agreed to end the long tussle between the establishment and PTI. “Imran Khan knows about the development,” the journalist added.

    Noting that dialogues between Imran Khan’s founded party and establishment have progressed significantly, Azaz said, “Imran Khan will be sentenced in the Al Qadir Trust case. However, PTI’s hardships have come to an end.”

    COAS, on Monday, had met CM KP, interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and Governor KP Faisal Karim Kundi in Peshawar, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

    “The enemy may try to sow discord and fear, but we will not relent. Hostile elements will be dealt with an iron hand. They will continue to suffer heavy losses, and their capacity to inflict harm will be decimated,” the COAS added.

    “Through their dedication, courage, and supreme sacrifices, we have successfully degraded the operational capabilities of terrorist organisations, both within our borders and beyond. Our forces have relentlessly pursued and eliminated key terrorist leaders, dismantled their infrastructure, and neutralised their cells, sending a clear message that terror has no place in our land,” he said.

  • ‘Why were APS attackers not tried in military court?’ questions SC

    ‘Why were APS attackers not tried in military court?’ questions SC

    The Supreme Court’s constitutional bench on Wednesday inquired the government why the trial of the Army Public School (APS) attack was not conducted in military court despite having the Army Act and the crimes linked to it.

    During the intra-court appeals hearing against civilian trials in military courts, the bench headed by Justice Amin-Ud-Din Khan also questioned why an amendment to the Constitution was required to conduct terrorism trials in military courts.

    Ministry of Defence lawyer Khawaja Haris stated that while the APS attack concerned the military, it was not directly tried under military courts. He noted that the constitutional amendment extended to additional crimes beyond those related to military duties.

    On December 16, 2014, the militants attacked the Army Public School in Peshawar, killing 147 people, mostly school children.

    The Defense Ministry’s counsel added that the nature of the crime determines where the trial will take place. If a civilian’s crime is related to the armed forces, the trial will proceed in a military court.

    Justice Jamal Mandokhail also questioned why the cases related to the General Headquarters (GHQ) attacks and Karachi airbase did not proceed in military courts, adding that the answer to this question was provided in the 21st Amendment case.

    The 21st Constitutional Amendment allowed military trials for terrorism cases after the APS attack.

    In response, Haris explained that the 21st Amendment case mentioned attacks on the GHQ, airbases, military, and places of worship, stating that if a crime is related to the military, the trial will be held in a military court.

    When the judge sought clarification on what “related to the military” meant, Haris stated that it referred to crimes directly tied to the Army Act.

    The judge further inquired where trials for terrorist acts committed in the name of a terrorist group or religion would be held.

    Haris responded that such cases would be tried in military courts under the Army Act and could proceed in these courts without requiring constitutional amendments.

    After hearing the Defence Ministry counsel’s arguments, the constitutional bench adjourned the hearing until Thursday (tomorrow).

  • Punjab gears up for crackdown on wildlife abuse, illegal pets

    Punjab gears up for crackdown on wildlife abuse, illegal pets

    The Punjab government is planning to establish special courts to tackle wildlife violations, it emerged Wednesday.

    As per the details, the Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee on Wildlife has announced the setting up of special courts to take severe action against those committing violence against wildlife.

    The move has come after amendments were made to the Wildlife Act of 1974, keeping in view the reports of brutal killings of endangered species such as striped hyenas, grey wolves and leopards in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur.

    Earlier, the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department had also proposed changes to wildlife law to regulate the rising trend of keeping large cats, including lions, tigers and cheetahs, as pets.

    “The Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee approved amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act,” Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said in a post on X. She added that the government had decided to establish special courts to address crimes against wildlife, which includes both abuse and illegal possession.

    “Violators of wildlife protection laws will face fines of up to Rs 500,000,” the post said.

    In the same post, the minister said that a complaint line, 1107, had also been established to report problems pertaining to wildlife. 

    Additionally, in the meeting of the Punjab Assembly’s standing committee, a new board called “Protected Areas and Wildlife Management” was approved to oversee these efforts. Meanwhile, special centres will also be set up for the breeding, treatment and protection of wildlife.

    “A hospital costing Rs1.47 billion will also be built for the treatment of wild animals,” reports quoted the minister as telling the committee earlier.

    “A comprehensive project has been launched in Punjab at Rs 1.73 billion for the protection of wildlife and the promotion of global tourism,” she said, adding that Achhali, Bansara Gali and Changa Manga forests will be used to promote tourism.

    It merits a mention that the amendments to the act have been approved after 14 years. Last changes to the act were made in 2007. The Punjab government has also announced the Chief Minister Wildlife Rescue Force for protecting wildlife.

    With this force, the government is aiming to address a longstanding gap in wildlife conservation in the province.