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  • Aleema Khan, Naeem Panjutha among others booked for assaulting journalist

    Aleema Khan, Naeem Panjutha among others booked for assaulting journalist

    Incarcerated former premier Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan, party lawyer Naeem Panjutha and others were booked on Monday for violence against journalist, Tayyab Baloch outside Adiala Jail.

    Complainant Tayyab Baloch said in a First Information Report (FIR) filed at the Rawalpindi Saddar Bairooni Police Station that he was present outside Adiala Jail at around 3:55pm on Monday for reporting with other journalists when Aleema Khan and other people began a media talk after a hearing for the Toshakhana case.

    “During this time, a person named Naeem Panjutha called out: ‘Teach him a lesson for questioning Aleema about properties,’” Baloch said, adding that 35-40 people then grabbed him, laid him down and beat him.

    “During this time, some unknown person snatched my mobile phone from me and also broke my microphone,” he said, adding that other reporters there who tried to rescue him were also beaten up.

    “We barely escaped them after much pleading. The reason is that I had previously asked Aleema Khan about purchasing properties in America as a journalist, which made her uncomfortable,” the FIR read.

    The complainant further stated that, driven by his question, Aleema Khan, “through her workers, first posted pictures of me … [and others] on social media and did propaganda against us. Today, as per the pre-arranged plan, they attacked me, beat me up, forcibly snatched my mobile and threatened to kill me, along with breaking my microphone”.

    The case was registered under Sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 382 (theft after preparation made causing death, hurt or restraint in order to committing of the theft), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

    He requested legal proceedings against Aleema, Panjutha and the other suspects.

    Meanwhile, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) posted on Monday, Panjutha dubbed the FIR a “fake case” against him and Aleema Khan.

    Decrying the incident, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar took to X on the same day, writing that Baloch was targeted with violence “solely and only because of a difference of opinion, which is unacceptable”.

    “Strict action will be taken. When there is no argument, the path of violence is resorted to…I have always stood with journalists, and in this case too, I will give full support,” he vowed.

  • Usman Shinwari retires from international cricket

    Usman Shinwari retires from international cricket

    Pakistan’s left-arm fast bowler Usman Shinwari has announced that he is retiring from international cricket. 

    The 30-year-old last represented Pakistan in 2019.

    Shinwari began his career in 2013 with a T20I debut against Sri Lanka. He later made his ODI and Test debuts, also against Sri Lanka. Over six years, he played 34 matches for Pakistan.

    The pacer featured in 17 ODIs and claimed 34 wickets. In 16 T20Is, he picked up 13 wickets. His only Test appearance came in December 2019 against Sri Lanka, which turned out to be his final international match.

    Shinwari delivered his best ODI performance in his second game when he took a five-wicket haul against Sri Lanka in Sharjah. He repeated the feat with another five-for in 2019, once again against Sri Lanka

    He was also part of Pakistan’s squad for the 2018 Asia Cup.

  • Indians startled as Pakistani Hindus take to social media with Ganpati Visarjan celebrations

    Indians startled as Pakistani Hindus take to social media with Ganpati Visarjan celebrations

    The Hindu community in Pakistan celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi Visarjan in the vibrant city of Karachi last week, leaving Indian netizens startled, as many were surprised to see such a large and open display of Hindu festivals across the border.

    Ganesh Chaturthi Visarjan is a festival that marks the birth of Lord Ganesha, the god of wisdom in the Hindu religion. 

    Several videos surfaced online, showing the palanquin (palki) of Lord Ganesh being carried from Mirpur Mathelo Colony and travelling 30 kilometres to Mathelo Sahib, where the idol of Lord Ganesha was immersed in the Indus River. 

    The video also shows thousands of Hindu devotees embarking on a spiritual journey, walking and dancing the entire path while chanting bhajans and singing praises of their Lord.

    As the videos were disseminated all over social media, some Indian netizens did not believe the festival had been celebrated in Pakistan. 

    “Ye Pakistan hai hi nahi pagal kisko bana rahy hu Ye Mumbai Ka koi jagah hai Maine Dekha bhi hai same (Who are you making a fool of? This isn’t even Pakistan. This is somewhere in Mumbai. I’ve even seen it. It looks exactly the same),”  said incredulous user in the comments section of the viral reel on Instagram.

    “These videos are fake; Pakistan cannot show such a view,” said another user.

    “But we are shown another angle of Pakistan on the news,” a third user expressed awe, exposing Indian hypernationalist media. “Bollywood kay bahir ki dunya (World outside Bollywood),” mocked one person, pointing to the increasingly anti-Pakistan sentiment being shown in the film industry. 

    “It is good. Now, we have come to know through social media that the Hindu community in Pakistan celebrates all festivals in the country. Otherwise, we were told that they were barred from celebrating it,” said another netizen.

    Meanwhile, sharing a video on X (formerly Twitter), one person wrote, “This scene is not from Maharashtra or Gujarat. It is from Pakistan, where all Hindus came together and celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi with great enthusiasm.” 

    Last month, members of Pakistan’s Hindu community became the subject of a viral video showing them celebrating Krishna Janmashtami in Sindh’s Hyderabad.

    The woman recording the video can be heard challenging the claim that Pakistan had a declining Hindu population amid persecution, highlighting the number of participants at the annual festival celebrating the birth of Krishna.

    “You cannot imagine how many people are here. I have never seen [so many] people at Janmashtami anywhere in my life,” she said in the video that was purportedly recorded on Aug 16 when the festival was celebrated.

  • Pakistan girls team qualifies for World Robotics Olympiad for first time

    Pakistan girls team qualifies for World Robotics Olympiad for first time

    Pakistan’s girls team has qualified for the World Robotics Olympiad for the first time. 

    The three-member team includes Eman Zahra Merchant, Anaya Anas and Aira Rizvi, all from Karachi. The girls are 12 to 13 years old and study in grade eight.

    The team earned its spot by securing first place in the Sindh Cup and second place at the national-level competition. Both events were held under the supervision of the World Robotics Olympiad.

    The global competition will take place in Singapore this November.

  • Drone attack targets Gaza aid flotilla boat near North Africa coast

    Drone attack targets Gaza aid flotilla boat near North Africa coast

    A boat carrying aid for besieged Palestinians in Gaza caught fire after a suspected drone attack near the North African coast. 

    The Portuguese-flagged vessel was part of a flotilla sailing with more than 350 human rights activists and aid workers, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.

    According to the reports, the attack targeted their main boat carrying steering committee members. The crew and all passengers remained safe. The group shared video footage showing the damage to the vessel.

    Despite the attack, members of the flotilla vowed to continue their peaceful mission of delivering aid to Gaza. The coalition stressed that the effort will not stop.

    The flotilla set sail from Barcelona on August 31. Organizers said it marked the largest and third attempt to deliver aid to Gaza by sea.

    In July, Israeli forces intercepted and seized the aid boat Hanzala that departed from Italy when the ship was about 70 nautical miles from Gaza’s coast.

  • Sweeper in Karachi school arrested on charges of raping seven-year-old girl

    Sweeper in Karachi school arrested on charges of raping seven-year-old girl

    Police in the Gizri area of Karachi arrested a sweeper for raping a seven-year-old student at a government boys and girls school located in PNT Colony.

    The incident reportedly took place on August 4 between 7:45 AM and 12:15 PM. The victim, a KG-2 student, identified suspect Deepak Kumar in front of the school principal. Her father later filed a formal complaint.

    Gizri police registered FIR No. 495/2025 under Section 376 and took the suspect into custody. The case was filed on September 7 after the victim’s father contacted the authorities.

    Police have now handed over the investigation to the relevant unit for further inquiries.

  • ‘Battled hardships, fought for brother’s treatment’: Humayun Saeed opens up about bitter memories

    ‘Battled hardships, fought for brother’s treatment’: Humayun Saeed opens up about bitter memories

    Pakistani star actor and producer Humayun Saeed has shared his bitter memories, revealing that he battled many hardships in life.

    In a recent interview, the Main Manto Nahi Hoon actor opened up about a difficult chapter from his early life. He shared that after his father stopped working, his younger brother suffered a fall that left him paralysed. At just 17 or 18 years old, Humayun became the sole breadwinner for his family.

    “I had no idea what to do at that age,” he recalled, adding that he visited numerous hospitals in search of free treatment for his brother.

    During those tough two to four years, he said, he took on various jobs to support his family. “I gave tuitions, worked in a factory and even tried to build connections in hospitals to get help for my brother’s treatment.”

    He also revealed that his brother is still unable to walk and is undergoing treatment.

    Humayun said that whenever he achieves success, he feels very close to Allah. “Whatever position I have reached today, I am thankful to Allah for it. In every success, I remember Allah more than the hardships I’ve faced.”

    He added that even today, he holds Qur’an Khwani at home on every achievement and expresses gratitude for all the blessings Allah has bestowed upon him.

    The actor also shared that he remains humble because he knows he was once nothing, and it was only Allah who elevated him to where he is now.

    “I am still the same Humayun Saeed I was 35 years ago. I still stand the same way, and that part of my youth will always remain with me.”

  • ‘Establishment has launched crackdown on family vloggers promoting vulgarity,’ claims Javed Ch

    ‘Establishment has launched crackdown on family vloggers promoting vulgarity,’ claims Javed Ch

    The country’s establishment has initiated a decisive crackdown on vloggers accused of spreading vulgarity through their videos over the internet, senior journalist and columnist Javed Chaudhry has claimed.

    According to Chaudhry, the move is intended to curb the rising influence of indecent digital content, which the authorities believe is “eroding the country’s cultural and moral values”.

    “Vloggers who create family-oriented content but use it as a medium to promote indecency and vulgarity are damaging the positive aspects of Pakistani society. These individuals will now face strict action,” he said in an undated video doing the rounds on social media.

    He revealed that such vloggers would be summoned, similar to how TikToker Dania Shah’s husband, Hakeem Shehzad, was called in and made to apologise for his behaviour. “They will be given a chance to correct themselves. If they comply, they will be spared and society will be protected from their negative influence.”

    Chaudhry added that those involved in promoting gambling and betting applications, flaunting wealth, or possessing illicit funds will also be targeted. “Authorities plan to confiscate any illegal earnings and demand public apologies from the offenders.”

    He warned that more individuals will soon be seen appearing in court the authorities believe such influencers are leading youth astray. “People no longer aspire to learn or pursue education. Instead, they want to follow in the footsteps of vloggers like Ducky Bhai. Creating viral mobile clips in hopes of earning dollars,” Chaudhry remarked.

    He emphasised that these content creators were “disrupting societal norms”, and a firm decision had been made to act against them in order to “safeguard the community”.

    Chaudhry concluded by saying that a series of additional measures have been decided, all aimed at improving society and ensuring a positive long-term impact.

    The claims come two days after social media influencer Dania Shah’s husband, Hakeem Shehzad, issued a public apology over his viral video at a wedding besides an audio wherein he had used explicit language.

    The apology came after the Crime Control Department (CCD) summoned him regarding the incident audio, Shehzad said, adding that they told him how his actions were inappropriate and unacceptable.

  • TikToker booked under PECA for fake news about Mangla embankment breach

    TikToker booked under PECA for fake news about Mangla embankment breach

    A TikToker has been booked under Section 26A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, for spreading fake news about “flooding in Jhelum villages due to a breach in embankment” of the Mangla Dam.

    According to the FIR, the complainant on Monday came across a video by TikToker Malik Nabeel, a resident of Jhelum, in which he claimed that several villages in Jhelum had been destroyed due to a “breach in embankment at Mangla”.

    The accused went on to claim that water had also entered Jhelum city and inflicted heavy damage, the complainant said.

    “The video has caused fear and panic among the public,” the FIR read, adding that the suspect committed an offence under Section 26A of PECA 2016 by spreading false news through social media.

    While an arrest has not yet taken place, it merits a mention that Section 26A of PECA pertains to the dissemination of fake news, causing panic or disorder.

    “Whoever intentionally disseminates, publicly exhibits, or transmits any information through any information system that he knows or has reason to believe to be false or fake or likely to cause or create a sense of fear, panic, or disorder or unrest in the general public or society shall be punished with imprisonment, which may extend up to three years or with a fine, which may extend to two million rupees or with both,” reads the provision.

  • In a first, KSE-100 rises past 156,000-mark as bulls extend historic rally

    In a first, KSE-100 rises past 156,000-mark as bulls extend historic rally

    A historic rally at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) has resulted in the benchmark KSE-100 Index climbing more than 1,800 points to surpass the 156,000-mark.

    According to the PSX website, the market opened on a bullish note and touched the highest level of 156,080.79 points at 10:20 am, an increase of 1,803 points from the previous close of 154,277.19 points. 

    As of 11:20 am, the KSE-100 was hovering at 155,636.72 despite the devastation caused to the agriculture, livestock and housing sectors by flash floods in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

    Reports said that confidence is being witnessed in sectors related to construction, recovery and energy as experts believe that investors are keen to invest in the cement sector due to post-flood reconstruction activities in some areas of central Punjab and KP.

    Strong buying was seen in major sectors, including cement, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration, oil marketing companies and power generation, while index-heavy stocks such as HBL, MCB, MEBL, HUBCO, MARI, OGDC, PPL, POL, SSGC, SNGPL, DGKC and LUCK traded higher.

    Last week, the KSE-100 Index rose 5,659 points, or 3.8%, closing at 154,277 — the fourth-highest weekly finish this year. Gains were supported by local investor demand, optimism over the prime minister’s China visit and positive macroeconomic signals, even as foreign investors remained net sellers.

    According to AKD Securities, the stock market is expected to remain positive in the coming weeks, with the upcoming Monetary Policy Committee’s meeting and any developments over circular debt remaining in the limelight. 

    The brokerage firm said that the KSE-100 is anticipated to sustain its upward trajectory, with a target of 165,215 points by December 2025, primarily driven by strong earnings in fertilizers, sustained ROEs in banks, and improving cash flows of E&Ps and OMCs, benefiting from falling interest rates and economic stability.