Current Final

Category: Politics

  • Imran Khan is a virus : Ahsan Iqbal

    Imran Khan is a virus : Ahsan Iqbal

    In a fiery political showdown, senior leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Hamza Shehbaz and Ahsan Iqbal, launched scathing verbal attacks on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on different occasions on Sunday.

    During a political rally in Kasur, Hamza Shehbaz fiercely criticized the PTI chief, citing his failure to substantiate corruption allegations against Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif.

    Hamza accused the PTI chairman of concealing state gifts in the Toshakhana case, a scandal that has drawn considerable public attention.

    Hamza argued that Imran Khan forced the public to bear the burden of him violating the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    He praised Nawaz Sharif, saying, “In 1990, there was no motorway in Southeast Asia. At that time, Nawaz Sharif envisioned building a motorway from Islamabad to Lahore. The world praised the motorway project when it was completed.”

    Meanwhile, Ahsan Iqbal, another senior figure within the PML-N, branded the PTI chief as a “virus” during a workers’ convention.

    Iqbal said: “The PTI chief is an inept person who harmed the country during his tenure,” adding that the PTI had launched a campaign against the entire country.

    Recounting the tenure of PTI, Iqbal said, “PML-N leaders were jailed in fake cases. We faced bogus cases.”

    He stated, “The PML-N will start its election campaign across the country after October 21.”

  • Murad Saeed successfully escapes arrest

    Murad Saeed successfully escapes arrest

    A police raid on a residence in Peshawar’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) narrowly missed apprehending former federal minister and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader, Murad Saeed, as confirmed by authorities on Sunday.

    While Saeed managed to slip away, law enforcement officials disclosed that they had successfully detained some of his close associates, including a relative and personal staff members.

    Superintendent of Police (SP) Warsak, Arshad Khan, has revealed that Murad Saeed was purportedly harbored in a residence located in Nasir Bagh, where he received assistance in his escape.

    It was further reported that the relatives of Murad Saeed not only obstructed the police operation but also verbally abused the officers involved in the raid. Shockingly, Saeed managed to flee just minutes before the police’s arrival.

    The trigger for the raid was a tip-off received by the Nasir Bagh police station, suggesting Saeed’s presence at the house of his relative in DHA. The Superintendent of Police (SP) Warsak division, Arshad Khan, confirmed the intelligence and subsequent action taken by the police team.

    The First Information Report (FIR) filed after the incident highlighted Saeed’s alleged involvement in multiple cases, including a violation of Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorist Act. The report also accused the individuals present at the scene, including women, of obstructing the police’s efforts, allowing Saeed an opportunity to flee.

    Additionally, the FIR detailed the recovery of firearms and ammunition from the vehicles seized during the operation. Notably, the owner of the house, Ilyas, along with Mohammad Arsalan, Azizur Rehman, and two women, who were identified as relatives of the former federal minister, faced charges under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Arms Act, including 506, 353, 186, 216, 148, 149, and 15.

    It is pertinent to mention that there are ongoing cases against Murad Saeed related to incidents that occurred on May 9 and 10. The situation surrounding this case continues to evolve as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged escape of the prominent PTI leader.

  • Governor KP faces criticism for using state helicopter along with family and friends

    Governor KP faces criticism for using state helicopter along with family and friends

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Ghulam Ali is being slammed for using a state helicopter along with his family and friends from the trader community during a recent visit to Swat, as per a report from Geo News.

    A video of the Governor with his grandsons and acquaintances boarding the chopper went viral on social media.

    In the past, the Governor had not signed a bill for blocking unnecessary usage of the state helicopter.

    It is not the first time that this has happened. During the governor’s visit to Bajaur in August , he was seen travelling with minor children, reported to be his grandsons.

    It should also be mentioned that the Governor had a disagreement with the former chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan, over the unnecessary use of the state helicopter.


    The previous government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), faced significant backlash for utilising state helicopters on what were perceived as unnecessary trips. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan received widespread criticism when he claimed that helicopter outings incurred minimal expenses.

  • Saudi prince MBS kept U.S. Secretary waiting for hours

    Saudi prince MBS kept U.S. Secretary waiting for hours

    Only a couple of weeks back, the US was apparently succeeding in normalising the relationship between Saudi Arabia, arguably the most powerful Muslim country, and Israel. And while Saudi Arabia commenced talks, they made it clear that they will never compromise on their pro-Palestinian stance.

    However, the Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7 and the consequential escalation has created a gulf between Saudi Arabia and Israel as well as Saudi Arabia and America.

    U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been visiting the Arab world to persuade them to side with Washington’s narrative on the Israel-Hamas war.

    Washington Post has reported that after meeting Egypt’s Abdel Fatah El-Sisi and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Blinken told reporters on Sunday that “I heard a lot of good ideas about some of the things we need to do moving forward.”
    However, there came a conflict of views when it came to Israel’s right to wage intensified war in Gaza as both the Arab leaders do not approve of it.

    It was further reported that in Riyadh, “the Saudi ruler kept Blinken waiting several hours for a meeting presumed to happen in the evening but which the crown prince only showed up for the next morning.”

    While the US is in full support of Israel’s operations in besieged Gaza, El-Sisi and MBS, both stressed on the need for the Israeli forces to stop the attacks.

    MBS also stressed on lifting the siege of Gaza that has deprived residents of water, food, electricity and more.

    On the other hand, Sisi pointed out that Israel’s attacks have crossed “the right of self-defense,” and turned into “collective punishment.”

    And while he condemned Hamas, he blamed Israel for the devastating situation of the Palestinian.

    When Blinken brought into conversation his own Jewish heritage, Sisi, who himself grew up with Jew neighbours in Egypt, replied, “You said that you are a Jewish person and I am an Egyptian person who grew up next to Jews in Egypt.They have never been subjected to any form of oppression or targeting and it has never happened in our region that Jews were targeted in recent or old history.”

  • PML-N gets permission to do Jalsa at Minar-e-Pakistan

    PML-N gets permission to do Jalsa at Minar-e-Pakistan

    The district administration of Lahore has given permission to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to hold a public gathering at the Greater Iqbal Park on October 21. Former prime minister and PML-N supremo, Nawaz Sharif, will address the gathering after reaching Pakistan at Minar-e-Pakistan on October 21.

    Lahore administration has said in its statement that PML-N had been told about the terms and conditions to hold the public meeting at Minar-e-Pakistan, while the former ruling party was also directed to ask for permission from the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA).

    The PML-N submitted a sworn statement to the Lahore administration to assure them that the party will pay in case of any damage to the park during the public gathering.

    The district administration has also emphasised its commitment to maintaining constant communication with relevant authorities regarding security, traffic management, and event organizers. An upcoming traffic plan and advisory will be released shortly to minimise any inconvenience for the general public.

  • Palestinian bodies stored in ice cream refrigerators now: what do we know about day eight?

    Palestinian bodies stored in ice cream refrigerators now: what do we know about day eight?

    Go to ‘tent cities’ in Egypt’s Sinai Desert

    Previously, Israel had told 1.1 million Palestinians in northern Gaza to move to south Gaza within the span of 24 hours in the light of a potential ground operation.

    This led to a backlash from the UN, Palestinians, and many other humanitarian organisations who deemed it to be “impossible” and catastrophic.

    Yet again, Israel’s former deputy foreign minister, Danny Ayalon, while speaking to Al Jazeera, suggested that Palestinians in Gaza should flee to Egypt’s Sinai Desert, where tent cities would be built for them.

    “The idea is for them to leave over to the open areas where we and the international community will prepare infrastructure … tent cities, with food and with water, just like for the refugees of Syria.”

    Evacuation impossible, says WHO

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that is impossible to evacuate hundreds of critically injured patients from hospitals in northern Gaza “without endangering their lives”.

    “Of the thousands of patients with injuries and other conditions receiving care in hospitals, there are hundreds that are severely wounded and over 100 who require critical care.

    “These are the sickest of the sick. Many thousands more, also with wounds or other health needs, cannot access any kind of care,” the WHO added

    The statement also pointed out that “The compressed timeframe, complex transport logistics, damaged roads, and, above all, lack of supportive care during transport all add to the difficulty of moving.”

    WHO has also called on Israel to lift its blockade of Gaza and to establish a “humanitarian corridor” on urgent basis.

    Hospital staff refuse to leave

    Despite no medical supplies and blockade of food, water and power, the medical teams at a hospital in the northern Gaza Strip have refused to evacuate, rejecting the Israeli army’s order.

    70 dead while fleeing northern Gaza on Israel’s callOfficials have revealed that a significant number of Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air raids while fleeing the northern Gaza Strip.

    Among the 70 killed were mostly children and women and were in their transport, on their to South.

    324 Palestinians killed in less than 24 hours

    The death toll of Palestinians in Gaza has reached 324 according to health ministry whereas 1,000 have been wounded as the result of Israeli air raids in the last 24 hours.

    Reportedly, 66 percent of the affectees are women and children.

    Previously, hospitals in Gaza report that since October 7, Israeli air raids have killed at least 256 people, including 20 children, and wounded 1,788 others in less than 24 hours, according to hospitals in Gaza.

    According to WAFA’s correspondent, Israeli forces have targeted Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood in Gaza city and the Red Crescent’s al-Quds Hospital that was currently sheltering hundreds of families.

    Simultaneously, dozens of homes and residential buildings have also been destroyed. Israeli fire has killed at least 52 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since Hamas’s attack on October 7, according to Palestinian health officials.

    Palestinian bodies stored in ice cream refrigerators due to lack of space in hospitals

    Due to lack of space in hospital morgues in Gaza, the bodies of Palestinians killed by Israeli air raids are now being stored in ice cream refrigerators instead.

    1,300+ buildings destroyed in Gaza: UN

    The United Nations reports that more than 1,300 buildings in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed in the Israeli attacks.

    OCHA calculates the destruction of “5,540 housing units” in the destroyed buildings and nearly 3,750 homes have become uninhabitable.

    Top Hammas military commander dead

    According to the Israeli military, a senior military commander of Hamas heading the group’s aerial operations has been killed in Israeli air raids.Hamas is yet to respond to the news.

    credits: Al-Jazeera

  • Pakistan is powerful enough to fight with TTP for 100 years, says PM Kakar

    Pakistan is powerful enough to fight with TTP for 100 years, says PM Kakar

    Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has firmly rejected the possibility of engaging in negotiations with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), emphasizing that Pakistan is powerful enough to fight them for the next 100 years.


    “Don’t you see that their people are being killed daily? Our people are also being martyred. So what kind of talks or impediments [you are talking about]? They are killing my children and I am killing them,” he told the media during his visit to Peshawar on Friday.


    “The state of Pakistan is powerful enough to fight the TTP, not just for one year, rather a 100 years,” the interim premier said.


    When questioned about the challenges in negotiations with the TTP, the Prime Minister emphasized that the primary hurdle was the absence of any willingness on their part to engage in dialogue. “We don’t want to talk to them. Who told you that we have any intention to talk with TTP,” he asked. Pakistan has witnessed a notable increase in terrorist activities, Kakar observed, particularly in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan in recent months. This surge has seen TTP militants targeting both security forces and innocent civilians.

  • Military officers appointed at NAB

    Military officers appointed at NAB

    In what is being called an effort to enhance the accountability process in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to revive corruption cases, the Establishment Division has officially assigned four military officers to various roles within the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), as reported by The News on Saturday.


    According to the notification, Brigadier Muhammad Khalid of Infantry has been appointed Director National Accountability Bureau in (BS-20), Lt Col Nadeem Muzaffar as Additional Director in (BS-19), Major Waleed Khalid of Military Intelligence as Deputy Director (BS-18), and Major Qais Kamran Syed of Military Intelligence as Deputy Director (BS-18).


    These military officers have been assigned on a temporary basis under the standard terms and conditions outlined in JSI-4/85, effective immediately. The notification was released following Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar’s approval.


    Reports indicate that, in addition to assistance from intelligence agencies, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has also requested technical support from experts in various government departments such as the State Bank of Pakistan, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and others to aid in their investigation of white-collar corruption.

  • Israel tells 1.1m people to evacuate Northern Gaza within 24 hours: what we know about day seven

    Israel tells 1.1m people to evacuate Northern Gaza within 24 hours: what we know about day seven

    Where do they go?

    The Gaza Strip consists of 2.3 million people. More than 1.1 million Palestinians living in the northern part of the Strip are being asked to move towards the South by Israeli forces — that too, within 24 hours as there are plans of ground operations.

    The UN has deemed the call as “impossible”, stating that it can lead to a serious humanitarian crisis: “It is ‘impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences,” the UN said.

    Israeli military sent a warning to Gaza saying, “This evacuation is for your own safety. You will be able to return to Gaza City only when another announcement permitting it is made. Do not approach the area of the security fence with the State of Israel.”

    Hamas, however, has told Palestinians to not give into the “fake propaganda”“Remain steadfast in your homes and stand firm in the face of this disgusting psychological war waged by the occupation”, stated the Hamas Authority for Refugee Affairs.

    Nowhere to sleep

    The International Committee of the Red Cross has revealed that as a large number of people in Gaza are being displaced, “hundreds of thousands have nowhere to sleep”.

    It added that more than 2 million people lack basic necessities, water and electricity; ambulances cannot reach the wounded.

    423,000 people displaced

    The United Nations has revealed that 423,378 people have been displaced after forcibly fleeing their residences in Gaza.

    The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said that this number has reportedly risen by an addition of 84,444 people on Thursday.

    ‘Genocide’ in Gaza, says Hamas

    In a video statement, senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad describes the current Israeli moves as “genocide” which are being backed by the Western countries who, he added, are not seeking a resolution.

    “There is no safe area for the people in Gaza to seek refuge or shelter,” he said.

    “Every area and every building is under possible attack. Everyone is targeted and vulnerable to Israel’s killing, including women, children, the elderly and even disabled people.”

    “The Israeli leaders are giving clear instructions to their army to carry out a genocide [against] more than two million citizens in the Gaza Strip. We are facing unprecedented crimes in modern history,”

    30 airstrikes in one night

    Israel conducted 30 airstrikes during the night in a span of just one hour.

    This indicates the intensification of attacks in the northern part of the Gaza Strip after excessive attacks in the southern part, targeting Rafah.

    Use of white phosphorus

    The use of white phosphorus has now been confirmed by Human Rights Watch.

    “Human Rights Watch verified videos taken in Lebanon and Gaza on October 10 and 11, 2023, respectively, showing multiple airbursts of artillery-fired white phosphorus over the Gaza City port and two rural locations along the Israel-Lebanon border, and interviewed two people who described an attack in Gaza,” they have stated.

    Additionally, Lama Fakih, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch explains that “Any time that white phosphorus is used in crowded civilian areas, it poses a high risk of excruciating burns and lifelong suffering,

    “White phosphorous is unlawfully indiscriminate when airburst in populated urban areas, where it can burn down houses and cause egregious harm to civilians.”

    Lebanese forced to flee too

    After Palestinians, thousands of people from southern Lebanese villages are forced to leave their houses due to high chances of Israel-Hezbollah war.

    Hezbollah is a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and militant group. They have a frictional history with Israel and both of them have, time and again, attacked each other’s territory.

  • International Journalists visit Jaranwala on the invitation of Mohsin Naqvi

    International Journalists visit Jaranwala on the invitation of Mohsin Naqvi

    The Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab, Mohsin Naqvi, invited international journalists to Jaranwala on Thursday. The small town near Faisalabad was the site of a riot in August in which armed mobs burnt the homes and churches of the Christian community.

    The visit aimed to provide the journalists with an opportunity to observe the administration’s endeavors in assisting the Christian families impacted by the tragic events of August 18.
    Faisalabad Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Nayar Sheikh and CPO Muhammad Ali Zia provided an overview of the efforts undertaken to support the affected families, the process of restoring churches, and the transfer of churches to the administration.
    Journalists learned that each impacted household received a financial grant of Rs2 million and had the damaged electricity and gas meters in their homes replaced.
    Christian students were able to return to their educational institutions after receiving support in the form of school bags, textbooks, uniforms, and writing materials. Additionally, jobless workers from the private industrial sector were successfully rehired with the cooperation of their employers.

    The visiting media reporters included representatives from the Washington Post, BBC, AFP, Arab News, Russia Today, and bureau chiefs of different international news agencies in Islamabad.