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Category: National

  • NADRA app seeks ‘liveness check’ from deceased to cancel their own ID cards

    NADRA app seeks ‘liveness check’ from deceased to cancel their own ID cards

    Users of the National Database and Registration Authority’s (NADRA) mobile app have noticed a seemingly unusual feature that allows deceased individuals to reportedly cancel their own identity cards.

    As per the details, NADRA’s mobile app includes a feature labelled “Cancel Identity Due to Death,” which provides users with two options for cancelling the ID card of a deceased individual. The first option is labelled “Myself,” while the second is labelled “My blood relatives.”

    While it is questionable how a deceased person could cancel their own identity card, the second option is worded as if from the deceased person’s perspective. The “My blood relatives” option allows immediate family members, such as parents, siblings, spouse, or children, to apply for cancellation of the deceased’s ID card.

    To the bewilderment of app users, however, upon clicking on the “Myself” option, users are reportedly taken through a “liveness check” that utilises facial recognition software. According to reports, the process is designed to ensure that the person using the liveness check procedure is alive and matches with data in NADRA’s official record.

    Users have questioned how a deceased individual is supposed to follow the procedure requiring them to log in to the NADRA app, starting a cancellation of ID card application under the “myself” option, and completing a liveness check via facial recognition.

    A NADRA spokesperson reportedly commented on the matter, clarifying that the ID card cancellation service for deceased individuals is meant to be used only by their relatives. However, the spokesperson did not address concerns about the presence of the “myself” option under the “Cancel Identity Due to Death” feature.

    Additionally, the spokesperson did not explain why the NADRA app requires a liveness check for deceased individuals or how such a feature could even be used by them. Reports suggest this feature is yet another example of poorly designed government mobile apps.

    According to reports, authorities often fail to ensure proper oversight during app development, leading to multiple issues in government apps. So far, NADRA has not released a statement on the feature, sparking debate over the app’s design.

  • Arrested Grade 18 lecturer confesses to BLA connection, reveals foiled plans for Aug 14 attack

    Arrested Grade 18 lecturer confesses to BLA connection, reveals foiled plans for Aug 14 attack

    Balochistan Chief Minister (CM) Sarfraz Bugti has lauded security forces for arresting a “would-be suicide bomber” as they foiled a terrorist attack on the country’s 78th Independence Anniversary, going on to introduce a detained individual who confessed to his connection to the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).

    During a press conference in Quetta, CM Bugti revealed a recorded statement by Dr Mohammad Usman Kazi, who said he had a Master’s degree from the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) in Islamabad, a PhD from Peshawar University, and was working as a Grade-18 lecturer. After releasing Kazi’s statement, the provincial chief executive noted that the information being shared was “not in great detail”, so ongoing investigation were not affected.

    Explaining how the arrested lecturer was allegedly involved in facilitating the Nov 2024 Quetta Railway Station bombing, in which 32 were killed and over 50 were injured, CM Bugti said that Kazi facilitated the suicide bomber.

    He maintained that Kazi’s mother was still receiving pension, which means she was a government employee. “His wife is also a government employee and he himself is a Grade-18 [officer] who pursued education and completed his PhD on Pakistani scholarship. His brother is an employee at Reko Diq, which means he was not deprived in any way,” CM Bugti added.

    He critisiced the exploitation of narratives of marginalisation, questioning the claims of widespread deprivation, and said that such elements were also exploiting women to prepare them for suicide attacks.

    The CM said that the outlawed BLA’s Majeed Brigade, which was recently designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) by the United States (US), operated in “three to four tiers”. He explained that the lowest tier was made of uneducated “footsoldiers,” the second involved women used for targeted killings in urban areas, while the top-most “sophisticated” tier included individuals like Kazi.

     “This is the first time when security forces have achieved such great success and arrested a leader of Majeed Brigade’s ‘sophisticated’ tier.”

    He praised the security agencies, the Balochistan Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and the police for saving the province from “huge destruction”.

    ‘I am deeply ashamed that I remained involved in these actions’

    Earlier, Kazi, in his video statement, revealed that during his 2020 visit to QAU, he was introduced to three men linked to “an organisation”, two of whom were later killed. He said that two men, Dr Habetan and Feh Khaliq, then got him to join the militant group and had him meet with a man named Basheerzai.

    “All these introductions were made through Telegram,” the lecturer confessed, adding he facilitated “three acts” on the group’s directives when he went to Quetta and that his alias in the organisation was Feh Hameer.

    He recalled his facilitation of militants and the banned group on different levels and revealed he had also provided shelter to a man who was “about to be used in some event on August 14”. The lecturer also confessed to having bought a pistol that was used “in targeting security forces and government employees”.

    “These are the acts I have done, the facilitation I have carried out. If it’s considered, the state has given us everything, respect, pride, a job… and even to my wife. But despite this, I went against the law and betrayed the state.”

    He said he was deeply ashamed and the aim of the video statement was to inform the coming generations and the youth save themselves from these groups spreading anarchy.

  • Lahore magistrate dismisses charges against transgender persons

    Lahore magistrate dismisses charges against transgender persons

    A magistrate in Lahore has dismissed a case against several transgender individuals who had been arrested for organizing an “objectionable” private gathering, stating that there was insufficient evidence connecting them to the claimed offenses.

    The court’s ruling indicated that the police did not provide any incriminating evidence. It observed that no eyewitnesses were present during the raid, no statements were taken, and no documentation granting permission to enter private property was included in the case file. The ruling further suggested that the defendants seemed to have been implicated based on “forged and concocted facts.”

    The magistrate also denied the police’s plea for a 10-day physical remand and released all the transgender persons. Their lawyer Haider Butt confirmed that they were freed.

    The arrests occurred after videos from the event circulated widely on social media, reportedly showing 50 to 60 participants, including transgender individuals. The Punjab government instructed law enforcement to intervene, prompting a case to be registered at the Naseerabad police station under sections of the Pakistan Penal Code that address obscenity, along with the Sound System Act.

    In the aftermath of the arrests, DIG Operations Lahore Faisal Kamran stated that “promoting obscenity under the guise of a party or photoshoot is a serious legal offense” and cautioned that similar actions would not be tolerated. He also acknowledged that the scheduled screening of the film Joyland, which deals with LGBTQ themes and is banned in Punjab, was halted in the city.

    The incident gained attention when fashion designer Maria B shared clips of the gathering on her social media platforms. She condemned the event, claimed that minors were present, and described it as an attempt to normalize values inconsistent with cultural and religious traditions. Additionally, she associated such gatherings with foreign influence, asserting that she would continue to bring attention to them despite anticipated backlash.

    Conversely, transgender rights advocate Nayyab Ali dismissed the accusations, stating that those depicted in the videos were not affiliated with the rights movement. Ali also noted that the footage only gained widespread attention after Maria B shared it online, questioning whether her actions amounted to the dissemination of “fahashi.”

    Human rights activists and legal experts have since expressed concerns that morality laws, due to their ambiguous language, are susceptible to arbitrary application and often disproportionately impact marginalized communities.

  • US keeps an eye ‘every single day’ on what is happening between Pakistan, India, says Marco Rubio

    US keeps an eye ‘every single day’ on what is happening between Pakistan, India, says Marco Rubio

    US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington monitors the situation between Pakistan and India “every single day,” noting that ceasefires can collapse very quickly.

    In an interview with NBC News on Sunday, he said, “…the only way to have a ceasefire is for both sides to agree to stop firing at one another. And the Russians just haven’t agreed to that.”

    He added, “Beyond that, I would say that one of the complications about ceasefires is they have to be maintained, which is very difficult. I mean, every single day we keep an eye on what’s happening between Pakistan and India, what’s happening between Cambodia and Thailand.”

    The 88-hour-long confrontation between Pakistan and India, that were triggered following the April 22 Pahalgam incident in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), ended when the US President Donald Trump intervened and announced a ceasefire between the two countries on May 10.

    Commenting on the Russia-Ukraine truce deal, the Secretary of State said, “The only way to have a ceasefire is for both sides to agree to stop firing at one another. And the Russians just haven’t agreed to that.”

    “Ceasefires can fall apart very quickly, especially after a three-and-a-half-year war (in Ukraine) like what we’re facing now … what we’re aiming for is not some permanent ceasefire. What we’re aiming for here is a peace deal so there’s not a war now and there’s not a war in the future,” Rubio added.

    On being asked why the US is not imposing more sanctions on Russia if the latter is not ready for a ceasefire with Ukraine, Rubio stated that Moscow was already facing the consequences of the sanctions.

    He said that the direction of the Russia-Ukraine war has not been “altered” despite the sanctions imposed on the Moscow. “The only way to end this war is to get Russians as well as Ukrainians to agree to a peace deal,” he added.

    “The minute you issue new sanctions, your ability to get them to the table, our ability to get them to the table will severely be diminished,” he emphasised.

  • Investigation into journalist Khawar Bajwa’s death takes turn as witnesses say they saw gun in his hand

    Investigation into journalist Khawar Bajwa’s death takes turn as witnesses say they saw gun in his hand

    Police have launched a high-level investigation into the mysterious death of Karachi-based journalist Khawar Hussain Bajwa, associated with a private news channel.

    According to officials, Bajwa’s body was moved to the Red Crescent Hospital in Latifabad, Hyderabad, where it has been placed in cold storage until his parents arrive from the United States on Monday morning. His funeral will be held in Sanghar, his ancestral hometown.

    Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ghulam Nabi Memon said that an FIR would be registered under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

    He added that a team comprising AIG Counterterrorism Azad Khan, DIG West Irfan Ali Baloch, and Sanghar SSP Abid Baloch will lead the investigation, reviewing all aspects of the case and adjusting charges if fresh evidence emerges.

    According to the police, around 8:00 p.m., Bajwa went to a restaurant on Hyderabad Road. Two waiters found the journalist bleeding after an on-duty guard spotted something unusual inside his car. The restaurant staff immediately informed authorities.

    A post-mortem examination was carried out at Civil Hospital, Sanghar. SSP Abid Baloch told a private news channel that Bajwa had suffered a single bullet wound from a 9mm pistol, with an exit mark on the left temple. A single empty cartridge was also recovered. 

    “We are keeping all options open and not reaching conclusions at this stage,” he said, confirming that he had also spoken to the journalist’s widow.

    The restaurant has also provided investigators with CCTV footage. 

    According to security staff, Bajwa went to the restroom before returning to his car. He had not placed an order, and the watchman checked on him and found him injured. Waiters later confirmed seeing a pistol in his hand and blood on his temple.

    Bajwa’s brother-in-law told police that the journalist had not informed his family about the visit. He had only asked them to continue their annual 21st Safar majlis but did not attend it himself.

    His sister later confirmed that Bajwa had celebrated Eid with her, while their parents are currently residing in the US.

    Meanwhile, DIG Irfan Baloch and SSP Abid Baloch have been appointed to a three-member fact-finding committee led by AIG Azad Khan. The committee has been directed to submit its report to the IGP within two days.

    According to an official, Bajwa was using two phones. An iPhone, restored to factory settings without a SIM card, was recovered, while another device is still missing.

  • ‘We have footage of six downed Indian aircraft,’ says Mohsin Naqvi

    ‘We have footage of six downed Indian aircraft,’ says Mohsin Naqvi

    Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has claimed that Pakistan possesses footage showing six Indian aircraft being shot down during the night of May 6–7 this year.

    Speaking at a seminar in Lahore on Sunday, Naqvi said he was directly involved in matters related to the conflict with India and had access to key information about the incident.

    “The army, air force, navy and government have all been acknowledged during the past month-and-a-half, but our intelligence agencies were doing important work behind the scenes,” the interior minister said.

    He stated that during the conflict, Pakistani institutions already had knowledge of India’s plans before the attacks. “We knew whatever they (India) planned, what aircraft they would use. Our intelligence agencies’ role was so important, but they do not come forward. We need to acknowledge them,” he emphasised.

    Naqvi added that when the Indian aircraft were downed, the decision was taken not to make the development public until evidence was secured. “We had radar data, but we needed field evidence … Within minutes, we received video footage of all six planes, which were shot down. We have this footage.”

    He recalled that Pakistan targeted Indian military installations near populated areas with missiles; however, every effort was made to avoid civilian casualties. 

    “We destroyed one of their biggest oil depots and there were no civilian casualties. That is when we knew that God was helping us.”

    The interior minister further confirmed that Nur Khan Airbase near Rawalpindi, which was struck by Indian missiles in May, suffered no damage, adding, “We had damage at one base where a member of the air force was martyred, but that’s about it.”


    ‘India is like a shining Mercedes, but we are like a dumper truck loaded with stones’

    The interior minister recalled that, during the conflict, a Saudi delegation visited Pakistan and met with Field Marshal and Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, urging them to de-escalate tensions and avoid responding to Indian aggression.

    “India is like a shining Mercedes, but we are like a dumper truck, loaded with stones; imagine what happens when the two collide,” Naqvi quoted Field Marshal Munir as telling the Saudi delegation.

    According to the interior minister, the Saudi delegation members had no response to the arguments put forward by the army chief.

    Following the April 22 Pahalgam incident in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), New Delhi, without presenting evidence, accused Islamabad of orchestrating the attack, a claim Pakistan strongly rejected.

    The 88-hour standoff between the two countries ended on May 10, when US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Pakistan and India.

    Pakistan maintains it downed six Indian aircraft during the conflict, including French-made Dassault Rafale jets, which it described as “battle-proven.” India’s top general has admitted to suffering losses in the air but denied that six planes were shot down.

  • Senate grills govt for excluding Jinnah from Independence Day ads

    Senate grills govt for excluding Jinnah from Independence Day ads

    During this year’s Independence Day celebrations on August 14, the federal government of Pakistan organized several events and placed advertisements in newspapers. However, the government has faced criticism for excluding the image of Pakistan’s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, from official ads.

    Social media users raised objections, pointing out that the advertisements featured the faces of President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Field Marshal Asim Munir, while omitting Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

    The matter also came under discussion in the Senate, where Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar announced an investigation into the matter. Some opposition senators brought photos of Jinnah with them during the session.

    Opposition members criticized the government for leaving out images of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and national poet Allama Iqbal during the August 15 session. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf senator Faisal Javed was seen holding a picture of Jinnah. He said, “This advertisement was not funded by their personal money. It was paid for with taxpayers’ money and public funds, yet it does not include the image of the country’s founder.”

    He added, “We all brought the picture of Quaid-e-Azam to pay our tribute. On August 14, not a single documentary film was aired.”

    Senator Ali Zafar also objected, noting that, contrary to tradition, documents related to the August 14 resolution were not shared.

    Responding to the criticism, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said, “There will be an inquiry regarding the omission of Jinnah’s image, and the House will be informed.”

    He added, “On Independence Day, various departments and organizations issue advertisements. If something like this happens, it is disappointing for all of us.”

    He further said, “We operate under the image of Quaid-e-Azam. We are the custodians of his political legacy and generations have remained associated with Pakistan Muslim League-N. No other opinion matters.”

    Tarar added, “The celebrations began at Jinnah Stadium, and we were all gathered there. I apologize if anyone was hurt. We are all followers of the founder. Pakistan is the gift he gave us.”

    He also emphasized, “We are not people who attack places associated with Quaid-e-Azam.”

    The issue has sparked widespread discussion on social media. Former federal minister Mushahid Hussain called it “ridiculous,” saying, “The advertisements only feature those who temporarily held office.”

    Former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar added, “The thoughts of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal have as much space in today’s Pakistan as they do in these government advertisements.”

  • 307 dead in KP after apocalyptic rains unleash devastation

    307 dead in KP after apocalyptic rains unleash devastation

    The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has released details of the devastation caused by heavy rains and floods over the past 48 hours, confirming that the death toll has crossed 300.

    According to figures cited in media reports, 307 people have lost their lives so far, including 279 men, 15 women, and 13 children. The PDMA also reported 23 injuries, comprising 17 men, 4 women, and 2 children.

    The disasters damaged 74 houses across the province. Of these, 63 houses were partially damaged while 11 were completely destroyed.

    The incidents reportedly occurred in Swat, Buner, Bajaur, Torghar, Mansehra, Shangla, and Battagram. The provincial authority added that it has released a relief package worth 500 million rupees for the affected districts. “Buner will receive 150 million rupees, Bajaur, Battagram, and Mansehra will each receive 100 million rupees, while Swat has been allocated 50 million rupees,” the statement said.

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Adviser on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said, “Eleven districts were hit by cloudbursts and flooding, affecting a total of 3,817 people.”

    He added, “Thirty-two people remain missing as search operations continue. A total of 545 rescue workers along with 90 vehicles and boats are carrying out relief and rescue efforts in the affected areas.”

    Saif confirmed that Buner suffered the highest number of casualties with 159 deaths, while rescue teams managed to save 100 people. “In Bajaur, 20 people died and one remains missing, while Battagram reported 11 deaths and 10 missing persons,” he said.

  • Three martyred as KP govt helicopter crashes

    Three martyred as KP govt helicopter crashes

    A Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government helicopter crashed near Chingai Banda on Friday while delivering relief supplies to Salarzai, Bajaur, killing all three people on board.

    According to media reports citing senior officials, the cause of the crash is yet to be determined. Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah said the helicopter was headed to Bajaur for relief operations when it went down.

    KP Chief Minister stated, “Contact with the MI-17 helicopter had been lost earlier.” He added, “I have directed immediate dispatch of teams to the crash site,” while noting that “the provincial government’s second helicopter remains engaged in rescue operations in Buner district.”

    Reports by rescue officials reveal that flash floods in Jabrai, Salarzai tehsil of Bajaur, “destroyed multiple houses overnight, with roads and bridges washed away.”

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf  (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar said, “Our focus remains on search and rescue operations, with teams being deployed to Buner.” He urged the public to “remain cautious” and instructed that “all MNAs, MPAs, provincial ministers, and local government representatives stay in the affected areas until operations are completed.”

  • CM Gandapur reiterates resolve for Imran Khan’s ‘honourable release’

    CM Gandapur reiterates resolve for Imran Khan’s ‘honourable release’

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Friday vowed to do whatever it takes for the “honourable release” of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, describing himself as “a rebel against the system” which, he alleged, had “unjustly imprisoned” the party leader.

    Speaking at a public gathering in Paharpur Sports Stadium after leading a massive rally from Al-Amin House, the chief minister said the Constitution and law gave them the right to reclaim their mandate, and that they were prepared to “take bullets on the chest” in their struggle.

    Hundreds of vehicles participated in the protest, which was part of the PTI’s August 14 protest movement. Supporters greeted the rally at several points along the way.

    During his address, Gandapur accused the state of engaging in “oppression” since May 9, 2023, claiming that despite being arrested and subjected to violence, PTI supporters have remained steadfast in their support of the party. “We will not commit suicide, we will fight. Those who shoot at us will face the same,” he declared.

    He criticised the state for waging “war against its own people” and stressed that peace was essential for development. “If people have taken up arms, the state also bears responsibility,” he remarked, adding that while terrorism must be eradicated, the government should avoid oppressing citizens.

    The chief minister also underscored the cultural ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan, calling for improved relations, and announced that Paharpur would be granted district status.