Current Final

Category: National

  • CCTV footage debunks claims of Rangers’ vehicle crushing security personnel

    CCTV footage debunks claims of Rangers’ vehicle crushing security personnel

    The release of a CCTV footage on social media has rubbished earlier claims that four Rangers personnel were crushed by security vehicles amid violent protests by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in and around Islamabad.

    The PTI, on founder Imran Khan’s call, has marched on the federal capital in protests that went violent with clashes between party workers and law enforcement personnel. The law and order situation took a turn for the worse as at least four Rangers personnel and two cops were martyred on Tuesday morning at around 3 am.

    With law enforcement claiming that the Rangers personnel were crushed by a fast-moving vehicle from one of PTI’s convoys, the party claimed that the vehicle belonged to paramilitary personnel themselves.

    Safeer Ali, an eyewitness of the incident and brother of the civilian who was also killed in the incident near Islamabad’s Chongi Number 26, claimed that he looked on as “fleeing police and Rangers deliberately ran people over as they sped away”.


    The claim, which went viral after Ali’s interview to senior journalist Matiullah Jan outside Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), was, however, debunked after the release of CCTV footage of the incident.

    The CCTV footage showed a Rangers check-post with a group of paramilitary troops standing at ease. In the background, a private vehicle can be seen crushing a separate group of Rangers personnel as it speeds away.

    “The video clearly shows that the witness lied about the details of the incident in his interview. He had said that, ‘I was standing there with my brother and PTI supporter who was a former FC [Frontier Constabulary] soldier. Rangers crushed him while fleeing. [The video shows] no witnesses or Rangers fleeing. They are standing at ease,” journalist Waseem Abbasi wrote while sharing the CCTV on his X (formerly Twitter) account.

    Meanwhile, the federal government, in wake of violent protests and deaths of security personnel, has deployed army in Islamabad by invoking Article 245 of the Constitution. 

    A notification issued by the Interior Ministry said that army has been authorised to impose a curfew in any locality deemed necessary to maintain law and order.

    Security forces have also reportedly been authorised to shoot miscreants and rioters on sight.

    By the time this report was filed, PTI demonstrators had reached their destination, D-Chowk, amid intense tear-gas shelling.

  • VIDEO: Army personnel hug PTI protesters atop containers at D-Chowk

    VIDEO: Army personnel hug PTI protesters atop containers at D-Chowk

    The political situation in Pakistan is becoming tense by the minute as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters have entered Islamabad on former prime minister Imran Khan’s “final call”, meeting heavy resistance from law enforcement along the way.

    With violent overnight protests resulting in the deaths of at least six security personnel, including four Rangers, the federal government has deployed army to quash the protests and keep PTI workers from advancing to D-Chowk.

    Amid high-running tensions, a video that went viral on X (formerly Twitter), showed PTI protesters climbing on top of containers set up to block access to D-Chowk. With army personnel present on the containers already, they were seen helping and embracing the protesters.

    The move was welcomed by authorities and protesters alike. Unconfirmed reports claim that army personnel also made announcements over loudspeakers, urging PTI workers to remain peaceful because the military won’t open fire on its own people.

    Earlier in the day, a fast-driving car ran over law enforcement personnel on the federal capital’s Srinagar Highway.

    As tensions between law enforcement and protesters ran high, the federal government deployed military in Islamabad by invoking Article 245 of the Constitution.

    A notification issued by the Interior Ministry said that army had been authorised to impose a curfew in any locality deemed necessary to maintain law and order.

    Reportedly, security forces have also been empowered to shoot miscreants and rioters on sight. Furthermore, a group of armed men reportedly pelted stones and opened fire on security personnel at Chungi No 26 in Rawalpindi, leading to another Rangers official getting injured. He was shifted to hospital in critical condition.

    Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, while talking to the media, said the government had talked and engaged with protesters “in every possible way”.

    “They hold talks and then pull out,” the minister claimed, adding that roads were opened so that PTI workers could make their way to Sangjani instead of D-Chowk.

    “The PTI leadership wants to hold talks, but a secret hand is controlling the party and it is stronger than all others. They have some other motives,” he said.

    Naqvi’s comments came after reports claimed that PTI leadership, including founder Imran Khan, had approved shifting the protest to Sangjani amid violent clashes. The same was disapproved by Khan’s wife and former first lady Bushra Bibi, who said she would continue leading protesters to D-Chowk till she had spoken to her husband herself.

  • ‘PTI leaders powerless in front of party’s secret leadership,’ claims Mohsin Naqvi

    ‘PTI leaders powerless in front of party’s secret leadership,’ claims Mohsin Naqvi

    Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi Tuesday said that “secret leadership” of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was controlling everything, leaving other party leaders “powerless”.

    Speaking to media as PTI convoys continue to advance towards D-Chowk after violent overnight clashes, the interior minister said that party leaders did not want bloodshed but they were powerless in front of a “secret leadership” that actually had control over the party.

    “Even the PTI leadership does not want bloodshed, but the secret leadership’s agenda is not aligned with Pakistan,” Mohsin Naqvi said, adding that a “hidden hand” was involved in the unrest.

    “The PTI leadership wanted to engage in dialogue, but the secret leadership did not want it,” he said.

    When asked about the number of participants in PTI’s protest rally, the interior minister said that it was difficult to give an exact figure; however, “2,000 of the total number of protesters were trained individuals”.

    The interior minister’s presser comes as PTI refuses to participate in talks with the government and protest at D-Chowk till party founder and former prime minister (PM) Imran Khan is released from jail. Violent clashes over the past two days have resulted in injuries to hundreds of protesters and cops alike. At least four Rangers personnel and two cops were also martyred in the clashes Monday night.

    Meanwhile, a case against PTI leadership has been registered at a Rawalpindi police station over the death of a police constable near Hakla Interchange.

    According to a First Information Report (FIR) filed at Taxila Police Station, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur, Salar Khan Kakar, Shahid Khattak and others were nominated.

    Assaulters, armed with tear gas guns, rubber bullet guns and other weapons violated Section 144 and initiated violent attacks on police officers, the FIR read.

    It further stated that the attack was a “deliberate criminal conspiracy orchestrated by the PTI leadership”.

    “Suspects abducted Constable Mubashir Hassan in a red van and later dumped him off Hakla Bridge before fleeing,” the FIR added.

  • ‘No breakfast, no rest’: Sindh cop deployed at Islamabad

    ‘No breakfast, no rest’: Sindh cop deployed at Islamabad

    A Sindh police personnel has complained about the inadequacy of food that had been served to provincial police during their deployment at the federal capital amid a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest.

    Speaking to a news outlet on Monday night, a Sindh security official said that authorities have not given them time for the proper rest, maintaining that they have been “on duty for two consecutive days.”

    “We are tired of doing duty since two days, we have no [additional] salary, [authorities] are not giving us breakfast,” the cop belonging to district Noshehra, Sindh, said.

    He further said that due to lack of a timely salary, he has borrowed money from his village, and he is in “debt” now.

    He also highlighted that two days ago, 2000 security officials came to the federal capital via train; apart from Karachi cops, other security officials travelled without having a seat, noting that the long expedition was tough as they had to stand throughout their journey.

    “Cops belonging to Karachi had a seat; we had to stand by the [train] door,” he complained.

    Observing the facilities given by the authorities, he stated that “proper water” was not served to the cops, adding, “We are purchasing tea by ourselves.”

    Meanwhile, in a separate development, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf convoy led by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and former First Lady Bushra Bibi has reached Islamabad Zero Point.

    It merits mentioning that following the federal capital’s Zero Point area, D Chowk is just a few kilometers away from where PTI is expected to stage a sit-in.

    Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, while speaking to the media at D Chowk on Tuesday, stated that around 2000 people in the PTI convoy were “trained.”

    The Interior Minister pointed out that the “secret leadership” of PTI is controlling everything, leaving the rest of the leadership powerless.

    “Even the PTI leadership does not want bloodshed, but the secret leadership’s agenda is not aligned with Pakistan,” he concluded.

  • Army deployed in Islamabad after PTI workers martyr four Rangers

    Army deployed in Islamabad after PTI workers martyr four Rangers

    Four Rangers personnel and two police officers were killed on Monday night prior to the deployment of the Pakistan Army in the federal capital.

    According to Islamabad police, a fast car drove over the cops on the federal capital’s Srinagar Highway.

    The federal government has deployed the Army in the federal capital by invoking Article 245 as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) convoy crossed sector G-9. 

    A notification issued by the Interior Ministry states that the army has been authorised to impose a curfew in any locality deemed necessary to maintain law and order.

    Reportedly, security forces have also been empowered to shoot miscreants and rioters on sight.


    Furthermore, a group of armed men reportedly pelted stones and opened fire on security personnel at Chungi No 26 in Rawalpindi, leading to another Rangers official getting injured, who was transferred in a critical situation to CMH hospital.

    Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned the attack on security forces and directed the authorities to bring the culprits to justice.


    Shahbaz Sharif maintained that anarchist group seeks bloodshed, observing that this is not a peaceful protest but extremism.

    Following the funeral of martyred police Constable Mubashar Bilal in Rawalpindi at Police Line in Rawalpindi, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi revealed that the federal government had offered PTI leadership an alternative to stage their sit-in at Sangjani rather than entering the Islamabad’s red zone.

    “They come [to D-chowk], and we let them go; this cannot happen; now, we have shown leniency where necessary, but once the red line is crossed, the government will take extreme steps,” the Interior Minister clarified.

    Meanwhile, according to local police, PTI demonstrators have reached Zero Point Islamabad from where the red zone premises start and where the army had already deployed.

    Zero Point

    The protestors reportedly pelted stones towards security personnel, and police have been shelling to disperse the demonstrators.

    Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur and former First Lady Bushra Bibi also accompanied the convoy, which reached Zero Point Islamabad.

  • Lahore High Court orders schools to arrange transport for children

    Lahore High Court orders schools to arrange transport for children

    The Lahore High Court, in a recent hearing, ruled that schools should provide transport to children after the winter vacations, while the government has announced a relaxation of smog restrictions in the city.

    Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court issued a three-page order on petitions regarding the smog issue.

    During the hearing, the court praised the Transport Department’s efforts to curb smog. Additionally, Punjab’s Advocate General informed the court that the provincial government is taking steps to control smog, including filing cases against those who burn crop residues.

    Meanwhile, the Punjab government has further relaxed smog restrictions in the city.

    Geo News reports that Dr. Imran Hamid Sheikh, Director General of the Environment Department, has issued a notification outlining these changes.

    The notification states that construction work is now allowed in four districts of the province, including Lahore. Brick kilns using zigzag technology will also be permitted to operate.

    Government and private offices can now operate with full staff. However, the decision to close shops, markets, and shopping malls at 8 pm will remain in place.

    Indoor and outdoor dining in restaurants will be allowed until 10 pm, while barbecues must install a hood system to operate.

    Heavy traffic will only be allowed to enter the districts from Monday to Thursday.

    These decisions apply to Lahore, Gujranwala, Multan, and Faisalabad.

    Earlier, the government declared a health emergency in Multan and Lahore – the two most polluted cities in the province.

    The Punjab government, in response to the severity of smog, imposed a “green lockdown” in Lahore, restricting commercial activities in identified smog hotspots and planning strict actions against violators.

    Previously, Secretary of Schools Punjab Khalid Nazir Wattoo announced that winter vacations in Punjab will begin on December 20 and end on January 10. This year’s break will last 20 days, a change due to shifting weather patterns, smog, and climate change.

  • FACT CHECK: Did PTI workers stop Ali Amin Gandapur from ‘fleeing’ on Nov 24?

    FACT CHECK: Did PTI workers stop Ali Amin Gandapur from ‘fleeing’ on Nov 24?

    A video of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has circulated on social media, showing party followers surrounding him and preventing him from leaving.

    The video has been claimed to be from the November 24 PTI protests, but journalists assert it is old.

    In the video, Gandapur can be heard urging party workers to let him go to the rest area for ablution, pledging to return after offering prayers.

    PTI followers blocked Gandapur’s car, fearing that the KP CM might escape from the scene, as he had done during recent protests.

    Last month, Ali Amin Gandapur disappeared from KP House in Islamabad, leaving thousands of party workers behind, only to suddenly appear before the KP provincial assembly in the evening.

    “We will go, Adiala,” a party follower can be heard replying to Gandapur.

    The video quickly gained attention, with netizens trolling Gandapur, claiming he wanted to escape to KP again.

    However, the video is old, and many journalists have since apologised for sharing it.

    Journalist Waseem Abbasi corrected himself after sharing the old video clip, noting he had been informed that the video of Gandapur arguing with party workers was from a previous incident, and he deleted the post accordingly.

  • Winter vacation dates for Punjab schools announced

    Winter vacation dates for Punjab schools announced

    Secretary of Schools Punjab, Khalid Nazir Wattoo, has revealed in a statement that winter vacations in Punjab will begin on December 20 and will last until January 10, reports Geo News.

    This year, the vacations will last 20 days, unlike previous years. The change is in response to shifting weather patterns, smog, and climate change, which have prompted the Punjab government to redesign its policies for the coming season.

    Initially, the schools were shut down by the Punjab government due to smog earlier in the month. Moreover, the school timings, along with the timings for office goers, have been changed. 

    In previous years, the schools were also closed by the Punjab for the same reason. 

  • Protest will continue till Imran Khan’s release: Bushra Bibi

    Protest will continue till Imran Khan’s release: Bushra Bibi

    Former first lady Bushra Bibi Monday said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) protest march will continue till her husband and party founder Imran Khan is released.

    “I will stand till my last breath and so you should stand with me too,” Bushra Bibi said in an address to party workers at the Hazara Interchange as her convoy makes its way to the federal capital for a “decisive” protest.

    “Even if someone does not stand by with me, I will stand [alone],” she said, adding that it was not only about her husband’s release but also for the country.

    She said that Pashtun were honourable people who would not abandon their “companions until the very end”.

    Scores of PTI workers, led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur and Bushra Bibi among others, have been marching on the federal capital on Khan’s call for a “do-or-die” protest.

    At the time of filing of this report, the main PTI convoy had reportedly reached Kati Pahari after passing Burhan interchange where police fired tear gas shells at them. The government has said it is determined to keep demonstrators out of the federal capital and quash the protest come what may, however, PTI workers and leaders are continuing to head to Islamabad, overcoming all obstacles for the second-consecutive day.

    Earlier in the day, caravans led by senior leadership of the PTI from all across the country on Sunday started their march on the capital. They, however, failed to reach their “destination” – D-Chowk in Islamabad – after meeting heavy resistance by law enforcement who resorted to the use of tear gas shells and non-lethal rounds.

    On Monday, the convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur and former first lady Bushra Bibi resumed its march on the federal capital, overcoming obstacles set up by the government from the Punjab-KP border near Attock till Islamabad.

    PTI leadership made it clear that they were in “no hurry” for their “do-or-die” protest as party workers and supporters across the country tried to evade arrest and police action.

    “Our destination is Islamabad, but we can take a day or two to reach there and let the government machinery remain panicked,” revealed senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser.

    Reports said that a majority of protesters marching towards the federal capital belonged to KP, while the leadership had failed to mobilise workers in Punjab and Islamabad due to police crackdown in the days leading to the protest. They also quoted sources within the party as saying that the people of Punjab and Islamabad were waiting for the “main convoy” to reach the capital for support.

    Multiple cases have been registered against PTI leaders, including Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, Aleema Khan and Ali Amin Gandapur. Omar Ayub and Arif Alvi have also been booked under terror charges over the protests.

  • PTI marches on Islamabad for second day despite heavy resistance

    PTI marches on Islamabad for second day despite heavy resistance

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday continued its march on Islamabad despite facing heavy resistance by law enforcement agencies amid closure of intra-city routes and cellular service by the government to quash the protest rally.

    PTI founder Imran Khan had on November 13 issued a “final call” for nationwide protests on Nov 24, denouncing the “stolen mandate” of his party, unjust arrests of PTI workers and the 26th Constitutional Amendment by the “dictatorial regime”. 

    With party leadership urging workers and supporters to join the march on the federal capital, thousands gathered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) — where PTI is in power — in the days leading to Nov 24 despite the Islamabad High Court (IHC) declaring the planned protest as unlawful. With the high court refusing PTI the permission to protest in Islamabad due to Belarusian president’s visit among other reasons, the government had expressed its resolve to bar the PTI from entering the federal capital come what may.

    Caravans led by senior leadership of the PTI from all across the country on Sunday started their march on the capital. They, however, failed to reach their “destination” – D-Chowk in Islamabad – after meeting heavy resistance by law enforcement who resorted to the use of tear gas shells and non-lethal rounds.

    On Monday, the convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur and former first lady Bushra Bibi resumed its march on the federal capital, overcoming obstacles set up by the government from the Punjab-KP border near Attock till Islamabad.

    PTI leadership made it clear that they were in “no hurry” for their “do-or-die” protest as party workers and supporters across the country tried to evade arrest and police action.

    “Our destination is Islamabad, but we can take a day or two to reach there and let the government machinery remain panicked,” revealed senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser.

    Reports said that a majority of protesters marching towards the federal capital belonged to KP, while the leadership had failed to mobilise workers in Punjab and Islamabad due to police crackdown in the days leading to the protest. They also quoted sources within the party as saying that the people of Punjab and Islamabad were waiting for the “main convoy” to reach the capital for support.

    Multiple cases have been registered against PTI leaders, including Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, Aleema Khan and Ali Amin Gandapur. Omar Ayub and Arif Alvi have also been booked under terror charges over the protests.

    Earlier, massive PTI processions from KP entered Punjab via Attock, Chach Interchange and Ghazi Barotha Canal. Another PTI convoy from Haripur reached Attock Bridge where it was met with heavy resistance from the police, leading to a clash.

    With the march continuing on the second consecutive day and main procession led by CM Gandapur still on its way – having reached Burhan interchange by the time this report was filed – citizens across Punjab are facing extreme difficulties as public life has been disrupted amid closure of motorways, all major roads and the shutdown of cellular service. Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus service has also been suspended besides the closure educational institutes in twin cities.

    Meanwhile, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has revealed that the country suffers a mammoth loss of Rs190 billion a day due to the closure of roads among other steps taken by the government to bar PTI from entering the federal capital.