Current Final

Category: National

  • Teenage Christian bride Arzoo Raja recovered, alleged husband detained

    Teenage Christian bride Arzoo Raja recovered, alleged husband detained

    The Karachi police have recovered 13-year-old Christian girl Arzoo Raja and arrested the main accused Ali Azhar, who had allegedly abducted and married her after converting her to Islam.

    Newsday Pakistan reported that the teenager will be sent to a Darul Aman (women’s shelter) as per the order of the Sindh High Court, which had directed police to recover Arzoo and present her in court on Nov 5.

    On Monday, the Sindh High Court had asked the police to recover and produce Arzoo Raja in the court on Nov 5.

    The CASE:

    On Oct 27, a two-member bench of SHC had admitted a petition filed on behalf of Arzoo Raja that claimed that she was 18 years old and had married Ali Azhar and converted to Islam with her free will.

    The petition also sought protection against alleged harassment of the girl’s family. Underage girls in such cases in Pakistan come under intense pressure, including threats to them and their families, to give false statements in court.

    Azhar allegedly abducted Arzoo in Karachi’s Muhalla Railway Colony West Camp Road locality on Oct. 13, according to the family, which registered a kidnapping case on the same day. On Oct. 15 police summoned them to the local station and showed them documents claiming that Arzoo was 18 years old and had willingly converted to Islam after marrying Azhar.

  • Govt planning to launch electric train from Islamabad airport to Murree

    Govt planning to launch electric train from Islamabad airport to Murree

    Minister of Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry has announced on Twitter that the government is planning to start a fully automated electric train that goes from Islamabad airport to Murree.

    “The next major project is the automatic train from Islamabad airport to Murree. The study of which has started and a meeting has been held with the planning ministry in this regard,” the minister said in the tweet released earlier today.

    The tweet was released in response to the tweet sent out by Radio Pakistan’s official Twitter channel that commented on the electric bus service plans of the Ministry of Information. Fawad Chaudhry also announced that almost 38 electric buses are set to start rolling on the roads of the capital city, Islamabad starting from December.

    Fawad Chaudhry once again reminded the attendees that the government is on a fast track in the process of normalizing electric public transport in the country, as two MoUs have already been signed with two major electric bus manufacturers who are set to bring major investment and set up production plants in the country.

    Fawad Chaudhry commented that this will bring prosperity to the country, create work opportunities, and also play a huge role in saving the environment. Commenting on the train project, the minister said that it will “change the face of tourism and travel” in Pakistan.

  • Court orders police to recover teenage Christian bride Arzoo Raja

    Court orders police to recover teenage Christian bride Arzoo Raja

    The Sindh High Court has asked the Karachi police to recover and produce Arzoo Raja — a teenage Christian girl allegedly abducted and forced to marry a man thrice her age after conversion to Islam– in the court on Nov 5.

    Sindh Chief Minister’s spokesperson Murtaza Wahab confirmed this development. He said the high court ordered the police to recover the teenage girl in response to an application filed by the SHC. The girl is supposed to located within five days and then moved to a shelter home, he tweeted.

    The CASE:

    On Oct 27, a two-member bench of SHC had admitted a petition filed on behalf of Arzoo Raja that claimed that she was 18 years old and had married Ali Azhar and converted to Islam with her free will, according to a report in Newsday Pakistan.

    The petition also sought protection against alleged harassment of the girl’s family. Underage girls in such cases in Pakistan come under intense pressure, including threats to them and their families, to give false statements in court.

    Azhar allegedly abducted Arzoo in Karachi’s Muhalla Railway Colony West Camp Road locality on Oct. 13, according to the family, which registered a kidnapping case on the same day. On Oct. 15 police summoned them to the local station and showed them documents claiming that Arzoo was 18 years old and had willingly converted to Islam after marrying Azhar.

  • Pakistan rejects Indian statements on Gilgit-Baltistan status

    Pakistan rejects Indian statements on Gilgit-Baltistan status

    Pakistan has rejected the Indian Ministry of External Affairs’ irresponsible and unwarranted statement regarding Gilgit-Baltistan.

    A Foreign Ministry statement said India has no legal, moral or historical standing on the issue.

    “For more than 73 years, India has been in illegal and forcible occupation of parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Regurgitation of false and fabricated claims by India can neither change the facts nor divert attention from India’s illegal actions and continuing humanitarian crisis resulting from the perpetration of the worst human rights violations in Indian illegally occupied valley,” the statement said.

    Pakistan’s position on the Jammu & Kashmir dispute remains firmly anchored in the relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions, it said, adding that the final resolution of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute was only possible through the exercise of the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination by holding free and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the UN.

    “Administrative, political and economic reforms are a long-standing demand of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. The envisaged provisional reforms reflect the aspirations of the indigenous populace of Gilgit-Baltistan,” it said.

    Pakistan called upon India to immediately end its illegal and forcible occupation of parts of Jammu and Kashmir and “comply with its international obligations by allowing the Kashmiris to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination through a free and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.”

    India had earlier rejected what it called an attempt by Pakistan to bring material changes to a “disputed territory”, after Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan declared the provisional provincial status to Gilgit-Baltistan.

  • Cracks in PML-N ranks over party’s ‘anti-establishment’ stance

    Cracks in PML-N ranks over party’s ‘anti-establishment’ stance

    The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is in quandary for taking an anti-establishment stance, as a number of its leaders from Punjab and Balochistan have distanced themselves from the “anti-state” narrative of the party.

    Amid these reservations, PML-N leader Abdul Qadir Baloch has also decided to bid goodbye to the Nawaz league for allegedly speaking against the army.

    The decision to quit the party was taken after the PML-N leaders refused to invite former chief minister Sanaullah Zehri to the Quetta rally over his feud with Akhtar Mengal, the chief of Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M). However, Qadir said he was leaving the party with “heavy heart” over “anti-army” rhetoric of the PDM leadership.

    “I am product of the army and cannot stand by the narrative of disobedience since it would be extremely injurious to the country. I have taken the decision of parting ways with heavy heart,” said the retired general who had served as Corps Commander in Quetta.

    This resignation was followed by several leaders of the PML-N going public with their reservations over the rhetoric employed by the PDM leaders against the state institutions of Pakistan.

    The statement of Ayaz Sadiq, wherein he said Indian pilot Abhinandan was released by Pakistan because it feared an Indian attack, also irked some PML-N leaders, who decided to disown the statement and the party line.

    PML-N MPAs Nishat Daha and Younas Ansari said that their heads hang in shame because of MNA Ayaz Sadiq’s controversial statement.

    “The entire nation was hurt by the statements of Nawaz Sharif and Ayaz Sadiq, what they are doing is not good for the country,” Daha added.

    Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Younas Ansari said, “Our family has been in politics for 35 years but I am ashamed at what is happening in the National Assembly. Ayaz Sadiq should be remorseful at his statement.”

    The party leaders in Attock district also disagreed with the leadership over its so-called anti-state remarks.

    At separate press conferences in different towns of the district on Sunday, PML-N MPA Jehangir Khan­zada, former MNA Malik Itabar Khan and former MPA Shahwaiz Khan criticised the recent remarks of Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Ayaz Sadiq.

    Khanzada termed Ayaz Sadiq’s statement “anti-state”. “He should not have talked in such a way while speaking in parliament,” the MPA said while highlighting sacrifices rendered by the armed forces.

    Itabar Khan said he could not support the “anti-national narrative”, adding that Maryam Nawaz, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Maulana Fazlur Rehman had made statements which did not “serve the interest of the country”.

    Shahwaiz Khan, former MPA from Hassanabdal, said he did not support the party leadership’s recent “anti-state” stance and condemned their criticism of state institutions.

    PML-N MPA from Shakargarh Allama Ghiyasuddin has also condemned the statements of the opposition parties against the Army. Former PML-N MNA Sardar Mansab Dogar has also announced to quit the party over what he said the “anti-state” statements of the party leadership.

    RELEASE OF ABHINANDAN:

    Sadiq, a former National Assembly speaker, is under fire for accusing the government of taking the decision to release the India pilot under pressure.

    Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi had “begged the opposition to release Abhinandan, otherwise, according to the FM, India would have attacked Pakistan at 9 pm that day,” the lawmaker had said during a session of the National Assembly.

    In response, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Babar Iftikhar held a press conference to set the record straight about the events surrounding the capture and release of the Indian wing commander.

    “Yesterday such a statement was given in which facts were attempted to be twisted surrounding the events that day,” the military spokesperson said during the media briefing.

    On Friday, Federal Minister for Information Shibli Faraz hinted at legal action against Ayaz Sadiq for accusing the government of releasing Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman of the Indian Air Force (IAF) under pressure. “What Ayaz Sadiq said is not forgivable,” he tweeted, adding that law will take its course now.

  • PM Imran trolled for saying his ‘selection was right’

    PM Imran trolled for saying his ‘selection was right’

    With Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan saying the fact that the opposition was criticising the chiefs of the army and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) proves he appointed the right people to the posts, he is being trolled by those who have misconstrued his words.

    The premier, who on Sunday arrived in Gilgit-Baltistan to mark the 73rd Independence Day of the region, was speaking to the attendees and participants of the Azadi Parade.

    “If these thieves [opposition] are speaking against them, it means they [chiefs] are the right people,” he said, responding to the recent remarks from the opposition.

    Lawmakers of opposition parties have time and again referred to the premier as “selected” for they allege that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) came to power after “stealing the mandate of the people”.

    While PM Imran was referring to the people he has selected, the headline of a report carried by Dawn led to people trolling the premier for “conceding that he himself was selected”.

    While the tweet is flooded with comments by those who were cracked up, a number of Twitterati have also pointed out that the premier was misinterpreted and his statement was taken out of context:

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  • PM Imran’s love for wife Bushra, who has ‘great wisdom’, melts hearts

    PM Imran’s love for wife Bushra, who has ‘great wisdom’, melts hearts

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has said he could not have survived without his wife Bushra Bibi who is his soulmate and has great wisdom.

    “I discuss everything with her… the problems I face in the government and dealing with complex situations,” the premier said while speaking to German magazine Der Spiegel.

    “Only a fool doesn’t talk about everything with his wife,” he said.

    It, however, wasn’t the first time PM Imran praised his wife for her wisdom. Upon the completion of Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s first 100 days, he had credited her for handling “such a difficult life” with grace.

    In an earlier interview, the premier had said that he plans to stay with his wife Bushra Bibi till last breath. Commenting on his marital life, he had acknowledged his wife to be a blessing from Allah.

    INTERVIEW TO DER SPIEGEL:

    On Friday, the premier also expressed concern over India’s antics in occupied Kashmir and warned that the region was a hotspot that could “flare up at any time”.

    He urged the United States (US) to treat it in an “evenhanded” manner, saying that Washington was under impression that India could limit China’s influence in the region. “But it is a completely flawed premise.”

    “India is a threat to its neighbours… to China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and to us,” he said and added the extremist government in New Delhi was inspired by the fascist Nazi state from the 20th century.

    In the wide-ranging interview, the premier also spoke of the US presidential election, Afghan peace process, regional and global stability, Islamabad’s ties with Beijing, Pakistan’s COVID-19 response, economic challenges facing the country and the new law prohibiting media to report on the military.

  • ‘Abhinandan’s release’: Banners calling Ayaz Sadiq ‘traitor’ surface in Lahore

    ‘Abhinandan’s release’: Banners calling Ayaz Sadiq ‘traitor’ surface in Lahore

    Days after Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ayaz Sadiq made a controversial statement about the release of Indian pilot Abhinandan, banners have surfaced in several localities of Lahore calling him a “traitor”.

    The posters displayed on the arterial roads, such as The Mall and Main Boulevard, called Sadiq “Mir Jaffar and Mir Sadiq”, as they featured his photo alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Wing Commander Abhinandan.

    The banners are allegedly put up by the ‘patriotic citizens’ of NA-129 — a constituency where Ayaz Sadiq defeated PTI’s Aleem Khan in 2018 general elections.

    These posters accused Ayaz Sadiq of peddling Indian narrative, as they equated his action to that of Muslim politicians [Mir Jaffar and Mir Sadiq] who joined the East India Company against their India rulers.

    Mir Jaffar played a role in the British conquest of Bengal, while Mir Sadiq was instrumental in the defeat of Mysore.

    RELEASE OF ABHINANDAN:

    Sadiq, a former National Assembly speaker, is under fire for accusing the government of taking the decision to release the India pilot under pressure.

    Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi had “begged the opposition to release Abhinandan, otherwise, according to the FM, India would have attacked Pakistan at 9 pm that day,” the lawmaker had said during a session of the National Assembly.

    In response, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Babar Iftikhar held a press conference to set the record straight about the events surrounding the capture and release of the Indian wing commander.

    “Yesterday such a statement was given in which facts were attempted to be twisted surrounding the events that day,” the military spokesperson said during the media briefing.

    On Friday, Federal Minister for Information Shibli Faraz hinted at legal action against Ayaz Sadiq for accusing the government of releasing Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman of the Indian Air Force (IAF) under pressure. “What Ayaz Sadiq said is not forgivable,” he tweeted, adding that law will take its course now.

  • Doctor identifies robber who looted him during treatment at Karachi hospital

    Doctor identifies robber who looted him during treatment at Karachi hospital

    A doctor at a Karachi hospital on Thursday identified his patient as a robber who robbed the doctor a few days back in the city. 

    According to reports, an injured person was brought to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) in Karachi. During treatment, Dr Arif recognised him as the same person who had mugged him along with his partner some days back.

    The hospital’s administration informed the police about his presence and after further inquiry, it was revealed that the accused identified as Kashif had sustained injuries after he escaped arrest during a police encounter in the Bilal Colony area of the New Karachi.

    “We have recovered a 30-bore pistol from his possession and a mobile phone,” said the police, adding that the search for his accomplice is underway.

    The robber has been shifted to a ward after doctors said his condition was stable after initial treatment.

  • PML-N stands by Ayaz Sadiq’s ‘unforgivable offence’

    PML-N stands by Ayaz Sadiq’s ‘unforgivable offence’

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided to stand by its party leader Ayaz Sadiq over a controversial statement pertaining to Indian pilot Abhinandan’s release, saying Sadiq was being targetted to settle political scores.

    In separate statements, PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal and Rana Sanaullah defended the former National Assembly speaker and said the government was blowing his remarks out of proportion. The statement came a day after the government spokesperson accused Sadiq of committing an “unforgivable offence”.

    PML-N General Secretary Ahsan Iqbal said that there was nothing illogical about Ayaz’s statement, explaining that “a weak economy translates into a weak defence”. “Accumulative national strength is reliant to an extent on armed forces and to a larger extent on its economic and foreign policy depth.”

    Meanwhile, Sanaullah, who heads the party’s Punjab chapter, said the government’s attempts to link the statement with the Indian narrative were problematic.

    “If Ayaz Sadiq’s choice of words was not right, where was the National Assembly speaker? The government is linking the opposition’s statements with the Indian narrative,” he remarked. The situation will get out of control if things continue in the same manner, he warned.

    Meanwhile, at least two complaints were registered against the PML-N leader for issuing a controversial statement on the floor of the National Assembly. These complaints were lodged at the Civil Lines police station, Lahore, and Secretariat police station, Islamabad.

    The complainants accused the lawmaker of “hurting the sentiments of the nation” and malign Pakistan on a global level.

    Dunya News reported that the complainants were forwarded to the legal departments of the police for consultation and action would be taken accordingly.

    On Friday, Federal Minister for Information Shibli Faraz hinted at legal action against Ayaz Sadiq for accusing the government of releasing Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman of the Indian Air Force (IAF) under pressure. “What Ayaz Sadiq said is not forgivable,” he tweeted, adding that law will take its course now.