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  • Karachi man gets 50 years for raping minor girl

    Karachi man gets 50 years for raping minor girl

    A sessions court has sentenced Shahbaz alias Shabi to a total of 50 years in prison for abducting and gang-raping a 15-year-old girl in 2021. 

    Additional District and Sessions Judge Naseer Noor Khan, presiding over the Gender-Based Violence Court (East), found Shahbaz guilty of abducting and intoxicating the minor and raping her along with two co-accused.

    The court noted that the convicts also recorded a video of the assault to blackmail the father of the victim.

    Shahbaz has been sentenced to 10 years under Section 365-B (kidnapping, abducting or inducing a woman to compel her for marriage, etc), five years under Section 337-J (causing hurt by means of poison), 20 years under Section 376 (rape), 14 years under Section 292-C (sale, etc, of obscene books), and one year for the offence under Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

    Additionally, a fine totalling over Rs1.6 million has been imposed, with failure to pay resulting in further imprisonment.

    The court addressed some minor inconsistencies in the case, stating: “Reasoning for mitigating circumstances, the court observed that there are some negligible and minor inconsistencies as the IO did not collect the cloths of the survivor. However, it added, these minor defects and inconsistencies would not be sufficient enough to discard the entire prosecution case.”

    Regarding the co-accused, the court stated: “Before parting with this judgment here, it will not be out of place to mention that per evidence of first investigating officer/ SIP Ali Muraad s/o Haji Baig Ali (retired). Custody of co-accused namely Mubashir Khalil s/o Khalil Ahmed, during investigation was handed over to Hawaldaar Feroze s/o Ahmed Zaman of Pakistan Army, video memo of handing over of custody of co-accused Mubashir Khalil being Sepoy of Pakistan Army 3 Unit along with his personal search articles, dated 19-06-2021.”

    “Record reflects that in this regard no any permission was obtained from this court nor from the concerned judicial magistrate. Therefore, inspector general of police, Sindh is directed to inquire into the matter and submit his detailed report before this court within one (01) month in respect of co-accused Mubashir Khalil s/o Khalil Ahmed, without fail,” the court ruled. 

    The complainant told the police that her 15-year-old daughter had gone out to buy some candies on the night of July 2021, according to state prosecutor Tahira Bano. 

    A fruit cart vendor named Shahbaz stopped her on the way, made up a story about her father being beaten nearby Gora graveyard, and convinced her to get on his bike with him. 

    After giving her an intoxicant that left her unconscious, the accused led her to an unidentified place where he and his accomplices sexually assaulted her while recording the incident.

    Later, the accused called the victim’s father and threatened to upload the videos online unless he sent his daughter back.

    In his statement, Shahbaz claimed that the victim’s mother owed him money, and when he asked for repayment, he was falsely implicated in the case.

    The court rejected this defense, noting: “It cannot be accepted that a mother, even for a single moment, would think to involve her real daughter for falsely implicating a person just to avoid payment of some amount and knowingly leveling such allegation which is self-deprecating and that would tarnish her daughter’s and her family’s honor and dignity and put an un-washable stain/ stigma on the future life of her daughter: for such petty benefit.”

    The case was registered at the Brigade police station under Sections 365-B, 337-J, 376, 292-C, and 506-B of the PPC.

  • ‘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.

  • Chinese IPPs demand Rs475bn in dues, warn of plants shutting down

    Chinese IPPs demand Rs475bn in dues, warn of plants shutting down

    Chinese Independent Power Producers (IPPs) operating under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework are applying pressure on the federal government to clear their dues which have surged to a staggering Rs475 billion. According to reports, the chief executive officers (CEOs) of CPEC IPPs sent a multitude of letters to key government officials to log their concerns regarding the delays in payments.


    Reports reveal that copies of these letters have also been sent to the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan in an effort to extract the remaining dues. It merits a mention that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is slated to visit China in the near future however, the $1.67 billion unmet payment to Chinese IPPs could strain relations with Beijing. 


    As per reports, the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan has remained locked in discussions with senior officials from Pakistan to sort the issue of repayment prior to Chinese leadership hosting the Prime Minister for bilateral meetings.


    The CEO of Port Qasim Electric Power Company (PQEPC) Wang Dongfang has reportedly raised concerns, outlining how the Central Power Purchasing Agency-Guaranteed (CPPA-G) has been responsible for the growing backlog of tariff payments. For reference, PQEPC can generate upwards of 1,320 megawatts of power under the facility’s coal powered power project which reports have hailed to be “a flagship initiative under CPEC” and a “critical contributor to Pakistan’s energy grid.”


    The CEO of PQEPC has highlighted how the federal government owes a whopping Rs81 billion to the power plant he runs alone. Moreover, details from his letter suggested that delays in payment stretched over six months. 


    As per the details, non-payment by the federal government is likely to result in a deterioration of future investment inflows as stakeholders in the PQEPC from both Beijing and Doha have recorded their “discontent”.  The CEO of the power company in question has suggested that the situation is likely to worsen if Islamabad does not take immediate steps to rectify the non-payment issue.


    PQEPC’s CEO warned the federal government, indicating that the company was legally allowed to suspend plant operations if payments are not cleared. Additionally, the company will not be liable for liquidated damages either as per Section 9.10 of the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).


    Liquidated damages in this context refers to the amount PQEPC would have to pay the government for breaching the contract. However, the company is not obligated to make any such payment to Islamabad under the current circumstances.


    The CEO underlined how this would “result in a lose-lose outcome for both sides”. Pakistan’s energy sector is already under stress and the closure of the plant will only serve to exacerbate the strain on the sector.

  • Jhol heartthrob Maanu ties the knot

    Jhol heartthrob Maanu ties the knot

    After Hasan Raheem, Maanu has also started a new chapter of his life, tying the knot with his long-time love.

    Renowned stylist Tariq Amin shared glimpses of the wedding, where the bride wore a traditional red dress and the groom chose a classic black sherwani.

    Maanu, known for his mellow, hip-hop-inspired sound, rose to global fame with his Coke Studio 2024 hit Jhol, a collaboration with Annural Khalid that resonated deeply with audiences worldwide. The song was not only a hit in Pakistan but also globally, setting several records on YouTube and Spotify.


    Earlier this month, in August 2025, he released his debut full-length album, featuring 13 tracks.

  • Babar Azam likely to lose Category A in central contracts: reports

    Babar Azam likely to lose Category A in central contracts: reports

    Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam is likely to lose his place in Category A of the upcoming Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) central contracts list, media reports have stated. 

    New central contracts are in the final stages of preparation and are expected to be announced next week. Sources said Babar Azam may not retain his Category A spot after a spare of poor performances, while major changes are also expected in the list.

    T20 captain Salman Ali Agha and spinner Abrar Ahmed are expected to be promoted, while Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, and Khushdil Shah are also in line for contracts.

    Reports added that Sahibzada Farhan, Hasan Nawaz, and Sufiyan Muqeem are likely to be included, but Usman Khan, Haseebullah, and Khurram Shahzad will miss out.

    Last year, PCB awarded central contracts to 25 players. This time the number will increase to 30. In the previous contracts, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan secured Category A, while Shaheen Shah Afridi was surprisingly demoted to Category B. Fakhar Zaman and Sarfaraz Ahmed were dropped completely. Imam-ul-Haq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Nawaz, and Tayyab Tahir also missed out on deals.

    Players in Category A currently receive PKR 6.57 million per month, Category B players earn PKR 4.55 million, Category C players get PKR 2.03 million, and Category D players are paid PKR 1.26 million.

    PCB has increased the retainer budget by 37 percent, raising it to PKR 1,173.49 million, although monthly salaries and match fees will remain the same as last year.

    Reports further revealed that this may be the final year players receive three percent of ICC revenue share, as the current three-year agreement will expire next year.

    Babar has not been included in the national squad for the upcoming tri-series against UAE and Afghanistan, as well as the Asia Cup 2025.

  • Pakistan’s Ashab Irfan wins Johns Creek Open squash tournament

    Pakistan’s Ashab Irfan wins Johns Creek Open squash tournament

    Pakistan’s Ashab Irfan clinched the Johns Creek Open squash tournament in the United States after defeating Malaysia’s Nathan Kue in the final.

    Ashab sealed the title of the $12000 tournament with a convincing 3-1 victory in just 40 minutes.

    Nathan took the opening game 11-8, but Ashab made a strong comeback to dominate the next three games 11-2, 11-2, and 11-6. His powerful strokes and quick movement left the Malaysian struggling to match his pace.

    This triumph marks Ashab Irfan’s third PSA title of the year, cementing his growing reputation on the international squash circuit.

  • Babar, Rizwan, Naseem dropped as Pakistan reveals squad for tri-series, Asia Cup

    Babar, Rizwan, Naseem dropped as Pakistan reveals squad for tri-series, Asia Cup

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the national squad for the upcoming T20 tri-series and Asia Cup, dropping star players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Naseem Shah.

    Salman Ali Agha will continue to lead the 17-member squad that includes Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub, Khushdil Shah and Hussain Talat. Other members include Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Mirza and Sufiyan Muqeem.

    The tri-series between Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be played in Sharjah from August 29 to September 7, while the Asia Cup will take place in Abu Dhabi and Dubai from September 9 to 28.

    Green Shirts will play their first match on September 12 against Oman, followed by the highly anticipated encounter against arch-rivals India on September 14.

    “Conditions in Sharjah are always challenging. We cannot take Afghanistan lightly. Playing against them is and will remain a challenge,” Head coach Mike Hesson said during a presser.

    “We will prepare well for it. The tri-series will give us a chance to prepare for the Asia Cup,” he added.

    Hesson further said that it was a tough call to judge a player’s form on the basis of only three matches. “Babar Azam played well in the first match but was asked to improve in some areas. Sahibzada Farhan was man of the match in three out of six games.”

    Director of High Performance Aaqib Javed also spoke about the decision. “Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were not part of the last three series. Saim, Fakhar and Sahibzada Farhan were playing in the top order. It is not fair to say that we are ruling out Babar and Rizwan based on two or three matches. We cannot say they will never be considered again.”

    “The current players have been given opportunities. The seniors have the Big Bash coming up. Whoever performs well there will come back into the team,” he said, adding that Babar and Rizwan would definitely play T20 cricket if they performed like others.

    “There is no issue with them, but at the moment, we have good options in hand.”

  • Ducky Bhai arrested at Lahore airport

    Ducky Bhai arrested at Lahore airport

    Popular YouTuber Saad ur Rehman, widely known as Ducky Bhai, was arrested early Sunday at Lahore airport after the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) registered a case against him for promoting online gambling and betting applications.

    According to media reports quoting the FIR, the case was lodged by the state through NCCIA Lahore at midnight on August 17 under several sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016,  including Section 13 (Electronic Forgery), Section 14 (Electronic Fraud), Section 25 (Spamming), and Section 26 (Spoofing). In addition, he faces charges under Sections 294-B (offering prizes in trade) and 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

    The complaint stems from an inquiry initiated on June 13 based on “information from reliable sources” alleging that various YouTubers and influencers were promoting gambling apps such as Binomo, 1xBet, Bet365, and B9 Game for monetary gain. The FIR stated that many people invested their savings in these apps and faced financial losses.

    Investigators added that 27 video links from Ducky Bhai’s channel were found promoting such platforms, though several of them have since been removed. Evidence collected also showed that Binomo and other apps defrauded users by withholding promised profits, which authorities classified as a public scam.

    The FIR further noted that Rehman was summoned but “deliberately avoided” inquiry proceedings, leading to his name being placed on the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL). On August 16, FIA Immigration flagged him while he attempted to travel abroad, resulting in his detention at Allama Iqbal International Airport. His phone was seized, and investigators claimed to have recovered chats with Binomo representatives, records of suspicious payments, and “misleading videos” promoting the app.

    The FIR also alleged that Rehman was working as a “country manager” for Binomo without authorization from any Pakistani regulatory authority, including the FBR or the State Bank of Pakistan.

    Reports also revealed that the accused was working as a country manager appointed by Binomo’s management, without obtaining any authorization from government institutions such as the FBR or the State Bank of Pakistan.

    He is expected to be presented before a local court in Lahore on Monday, where authorities are likely to seek his remand.

  • Govt denies request for lower gas tariff

    Govt denies request for lower gas tariff

    The federal government has rejected a request for a lower tariff on gas, which would have allowed for export sectors to benefit, boosting competitiveness in the international market.


    As per the details, Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) authorities, during a recent meeting of the body, noted that concessionary tariffs on the sale of gas had already been exhausted in 2023. Authorities believed that granting tariff reductions to zero-rated and export sectors could result in other sectors requesting for similar concessions, reports said.

    The Ministry of Commerce told the meeting that Ghani Glass had in 2019 filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC), asking that the concessionary gas and re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) tariff of Rs600 per mmBtu, already given to zero-rated and export-oriented sectors, be extended to them as well.

    According to reports, the petition named the Petroleum Division, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) as respondents, but the finance and commerce ministries were only added to the case on April 7, 2025.


    Reports said that the court ordered the finance ministry to work with the commerce ministry and other stakeholders to present Ghani Glass’s case to the ECC within 60 days. The goal was to design a fair policy that grants concessions only to genuinely export-oriented industries, rather than to entire sectors that include non-exporters.


    The court further directed the ECC to review, within the same 60-day period, Ghani Glass’s request for a tariff concession on Sui gas and RLNG, noting that glass had been unfairly excluded from the list of export-oriented sectors.


    Authorities were reportedly also instructed to determine whether Ghani Glass should receive the lower tariff starting from 2015, up to the period when similar benefits were extended to zero-rated and export-based industries.


    According to reports, the court asked the ECC to assess the glass industry’s export potential and its ability to generate foreign exchange while also considering whether it was reasonable to charge export-oriented industries in Pakistan higher energy prices than those faced by competitors abroad.


    As per the Commerce Division, the gas concession was originally given to sectors that made up a major share of Pakistan’s exports in 2011. At that time, the glass industry’s exports stood at only $15.9 million, which it described as insignificant. Based on the aforementioned facts, the Commerce Division told the ECC that Ghani Glass’s request for a tariff concession was not justified and recommended that it be rejected.

  • French air traffic controller suspended after saying ‘Free Palestine’ to Israeli pilots

    French air traffic controller suspended after saying ‘Free Palestine’ to Israeli pilots

    A French air traffic controller has reportedly been suspended after saying “Free Palestine” while communicating with Israeli pilots operating an El Al aircraft.

    The incident occurred on Monday shortly after the plane departed from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, according to media reports.

    A spokesperson for El Al told Fox News Digital that the airline viewed the controller’s words “with utmost severity” and described them as “unprofessional and inappropriate.”

    “EL AL will continue to fly proudly around the world with the Israeli flag on its aircraft, upholding professionalism and ensuring the safety and security of its passengers and crews,” the airline said in a statement.

    French Transportation Minister Philippe Tabarot responded swiftly, saying an investigation was underway. “If the facts were confirmed, they would be reprehensible as they would violate the rules of radio communications, which must be limited to the safety and regularity of air traffic,” Tabarot wrote on X. He later confirmed that the recordings matched El Al’s report and said the controller had been identified and barred from duty “until further notice.”

    The declaration of “Free Palestine” comes in the context of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, which began to worsen in October 2023. More than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 151,000 injured, with women and children making up the majority of victims. Entire families have been wiped out, and millions have been forced from their homes.

    The destruction across Gaza is immense. Satellite data shows that over 102,000 buildings have been completely destroyed, and nearly 80 percent of all structures are damaged or reduced to rubble. The healthcare system is on the brink of collapse. According to the World Health Organization, only 19 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals remain operational. Many provide only limited emergency care, while doctors perform surgeries without proper supplies or anesthesia.

    Schools and UN shelters, where families sought safety, have been bombed, resulting in thousands of deaths. More than 400 aid workers and over 1,300 health workers have been reported killed as of April 2025. Journalists have also faced unprecedented targeting, with over 260 media workers killed, according to reports.

    Starvation has been deliberately used as a weapon, leaving children malnourished and millions at risk of dying from hunger.

    The starvation death toll has now reached 240, including 107 children, according to Aljazeera.