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  • Missing person returns home after court warning

    Missing person returns home after court warning

    Haseeb Hamza, who had reportedly gone “missing” in August has been produced before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) by the police, a day after the court issued a strict warning to the police and intelligence agencies to locate him by Wednesday.

    His father, Zulfikar Ali, told the court that his son phoned him in the morning to inform him that he was near the Shifa International Hospital in the capital.

    During the hearing today (Wednesday), IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Justice Minallah asked Haseeb where he had been, to which he replied that he was blindfolded at the time he was taken and had no knowledge of where he was.

    Haseeb’s father had filed a petition in IHC, which stated that on the night between August 22 and August 23, around 20 people — 15 of them in black uniforms — entered his house without a warrant and whisked away his son along with a laptop computer, five mobile phones and some documents.

    After Hamza’s return, Justice Minallah ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to conduct an investigation into the kidnapping case and to submit a report to the registrar of the high court by September 22.

    ’Produce missing person by tomorrow, else intelligence services must appear at court’, Court directs police

    A day earlier, Justice Minallah gave strict orders to find Hamze by 10am tomorrow (Wednesday).

    The court also added that if the person is not produced by tomorrow, sector commanders of Military Intelligence (MI), Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Special Branch and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) must appear before the court.

    His father Zulfikar Ali filed a petition in which he said his son was picked up from their home on August 22. According to him, he filed a First Information Report (FIR) at the time but all in vain.

    Zulfikar had said that his son was a labourer who worked in Layyah in Punjab.

    The IGP duly appeared before the court and confirmed that FIR had been lodged.

    Moreover, the petition said that the police say that Haseeb is with the intelligence agencies.

    Justice Minallah said that under an earlier court verdict IGP and other concerned officials should be held responsible for the disappearance of a citizen.

    Earlier, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif appeared before IHC and assured the court that all-out efforts will be made to recover missing persons.

    “I cannot say that all of the missing persons will be recovered, but we will leave no stone unturned”, he had promised.

  • Sharp rise in Dengue cases in Karachi

    Sharp rise in Dengue cases in Karachi

    Karachi is witnessing a sharp increase in dengue fever cases with 113 new cases of the vector-borne disease reported in the city in the past 24 hours.

    According to officials at government-run hospitals, the number of dengue cases in Karachi has surpassed 3,000 this year. So far in September, 843 people in Karachi have contracted the virus. Approximately 3,428 dengue cases have been registered in the province of Sindh overall. Yesterday, no dengue cases were reported in the districts of Hyderabad and Larkana. It should be noted that a large number of dengue cases have been reported in Karachi’s East area.


    In the past 24 hours, 62 patients were diagnosed with dengue in Lahore, while 55 new cases were reported in Islamabad.

    Dengue fever is one of the world’s leading mosquito-borne illnesses and infects millions across the globe annually.

    Read more- Dengue cases on the rise in Punjab


    Dengue is transmitted by the Aedes Egypti mosquito, which thrives in densely-populated tropical climates and breeds in stagnant pools of water. The mosquitoes picks up the virus from infected humans and pass it along through bites.

    Dengue is potentially fatal, with a severe version of the disease called dengue hemorrhagic fever causing internal bleeding which could lead to death.

  • Exclusive: Apple user or Samsung loyalist? What phone does PM Shehbaz use?

    Exclusive: Apple user or Samsung loyalist? What phone does PM Shehbaz use?

    Android or iOS—which one is better? We have heard this never-ending debate many times. Now, the debate has turned towards the power corridors of Islamabad. The question being asked on social media is, what phone does our Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif use?

    Earlier in the day, PM’s Focal Person on Digital Media, Muhammad Abubakar Umer, shared a video of the Premier who was sitting with United Nations (UN) Chief Antonio Guterres. They both visited the flood-affected areas of Sindh.

    In the video, PM Shehbaz pulled out his phone which appears to be an iPhone 7.

    Abubakar has also mentioned the model of the phone in the caption. He said, “PM Shehbaz doesn’t normally carry/use his mobile phone in public. This is probably the first time he pulled out his phone during a meeting—to show a flood-related video to UN Secretary-General— and guess what? It’s not iPhone 14, not even X or 9. It looks more like iPhone 7.”

    Upon asking the reason behind PM not upgrading his phone, Abubakar told The Current, “He [PM Shehbaz] uses the phone only for necessary functions and not for entertainment or luxury. He would use the phone as long it serves the basic purpose of call or text and sometimes video message or call.”

    The focal person also revealed that when he met PM Shehbaz back in 2011 he [PM] was carrying a phone that “looked like Nokia 3310”. He said that it was a very “basic” phone.

    “PM has all the resources to afford a new phone but he is doing great even without keeping up with the latest phone models”, he added.

  • LGBT activists allegedly sentenced to death in Iran on accusation of promoting homosexuality

    LGBT activists allegedly sentenced to death in Iran on accusation of promoting homosexuality

    A court in Iran sentenced two LGBTQ rights activists to death on allegations of encouraging homosexuality.


    According to the Hengaw Kurdish rights organisation, the two women, Zahra Sedighi Hamedani, 31, and Elham Chubdar, 24, were sentenced to death by a court in the northwestern town of Urmia.

    They were convicted of “spreading corruption on earth.” This accusation is routinely levied on individuals who are found to have violated the country’s sharia regulations.

    They were also charged with preaching Christianity and communicating with international media.


    Iran’s judiciary has confirmed the sentences but said they were connected to human trafficking and not with LGBT activism.

    “Contrary to the news published in cyberspace and the rumours that have been spread, these two individuals have been accused of deceiving women and young girls and trafficking them to one of the countries of the region,” the judiciary’s news outlet Mizan reported.


    Homosexuality is illegal in Iran, and same-sex intimacy for both men and women is officially criminalised in the penal code.

  • ANF confiscates more than one tonne of drugs during an operation in Islamabad

    ANF confiscates more than one tonne of drugs during an operation in Islamabad

    During an operation on Sunday, the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) was able to recover more than a tonne of drugs and take two suspects into custody.

    According to a spokesman for the ANF headquarters, the ANF carried out a raid in the Islamabad area after receiving a tip, seizing nearly one tonne of drugs, including 1,020 kg of hash and 28.8 kg of heroin, as well as two members of an inter-provincial drug smuggling ring.

    The refrigerated container contained medicines that were being transported out of Balochistan. After filing a case against the accused, ANF began a new investigation to find other gang members, he continued.

    In other news, the Airports Security Force (ASF) recovered 7 kg of heroin on Sunday as a result of two separate raids at the airports in Lahore and Karachi.

    Asif Ali, a passenger travelling from Lahore to Bangkok, had 5.12 kg of heroin hidden in his hand luggage, according to Anti Narcotic Force (ANF) officers. The accused had expertly concealed the heroin in his hand luggage.

    In the second operation, which was carried out at the Karachi Airport, 1.47 kg of heroin was found in Ahmed Sher’s suitcase, who was travelling from Karachi to Medina.

    While ASF representatives said that the accused had been given to ANF for additional legal proceedings, including drug charges.

  • ‘September sitamgar hoga’: Sheikh Rasheed announces Khan’s march in Islamabad

    ‘September sitamgar hoga’: Sheikh Rasheed announces Khan’s march in Islamabad

    Former interior minister and Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed said on Sunday that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan will give a call to his supporters to march towards Islamabad once the flood situation eases down.

    Rasheed took to his Twitter handle and warned: “Sitambar Sitamgar ho ga (September will be cruel)”.

    The former federal minister pointed out that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has made yet another agreement of Rs608 billion with the government. “First they robbed the treasury and now the people’s pockets”, he said.

    “Floods have opened the eyes of the people of Sindh, the floods have destroyed the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) reputation. How will other countries give aid when the people of the country refuse to give money to money launderers?”

    He said that the people can not bear the burden of increasing petrol and power prices, yet the “government continues to raise them”.

    In a series of tweets, he said that IMF knows that there is a weak majority of the government and people can come to the streets.

    “The time is not far when factories and shops will be closed, people will be on the streets”, he warned again while adding that floods have become a matter of “political point scoring”.

    Rasheed’s statement came a day after Imran Khan warned the government to stop the “persecution” of his party workers otherwise he will again march on Islamabad.

    He said the government would have “no place to hide” in the event he comes to Islamabad.

  • ‘Mujhe itna dewaar say mat lagain ke mai sari qaum ke samnay unki shaklain rakh doon’: Imran Khan

    ‘Mujhe itna dewaar say mat lagain ke mai sari qaum ke samnay unki shaklain rakh doon’: Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan warned his opponents against pushing him against the wall.

    “I have been tolerating all this for the last four months. The more you try to intimidate me, the more I will fight back,” said Khan while addressing a gathering in Sargodha, on September 1.

    “Mujhe itna dewaar say mat lagain ke main sari qoum ke samnay unki shaklain rakh don jinho nay apnay mufaad ke liye mulk ko mushkil main dala [Don’t push me against the wall otherwise I will expose all those faces to the nation who have put the country in trouble for their interest]”, warned Khan.

    Talking about his public support, the former Prime Minister said that he can shut down the federal capital whenever he wants.

    “My nation is standing by me. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is spread all over, from Gilgit Baltistan to Khyber Pakthunwkan. We’re in Punjab and Azad Kashmir. Whenever I want, I can shut down Islamabad,” he said.

    “I am telling you again, don’t push me that much. The more you will try to put pressure, scare me and file FIRs, I will fight back more strongly,” he told his opponents.

    Khan further alleged that conspiracied were hatched to sideline him. “It was decided in closed door meetings to side line me. I thank God I got to know about their plans. I have made a tape and recorded the names of four people who hatched the conspiracy against me. If any thing happens to me I know my country will not spare them,” he told the crowd.

    Responding to Imran Khan’s speech, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that when one loses power they talk in a similar manner as does Imran Khan.

    “He [Imran Khan] must try and block Islamabad. You have provincial governments, you must spend your time making the lives of people better there, rather than claiming to shut down the capital. This is not the way democracy works,” rebuked the former Premier.

    “It is the people who will push Imran Khan to the wall for all the lies he has been telling,” said Khaqan.

  • Govt spends Rs20 million per month on Khan’s security: IG Islamabad

    In a meeting of the Senate Standing Com­mittee on Interior chaired by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Senator Mohsin Aziz, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Isla­mabad Dr Akbar Nasir Khan revealed that 266 personnel have been deployed for PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s security, which costs the government Rs20 million per month.

    The meeting took place on Wednesday, in which IGP Islamabad also admitted that there are reports of threats to Khan’s life.

    IGP Nasir provided these details in the form of a report sought by Committee Chairman Mohsin Aziz, who took a suo moto notice on reports of withdrawal of Khan’s security.

    He was asked about the reasons for the withdrawal of Khan’s security and revoking of private security companies’ licenses that were deployed for his protection. In reply, the IGP said that besides the two private security companies, 266 personnel from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) police, Frontier Consta­bulary and Rangers have been deployed for PTI Chairman’s security.

    He added that the said licenses were revoked by the Interior Ministry, however, they are still performing security duties.

    Chairman Committee Aziz observed that Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah was invited eight times for this meeting, but he did not come to attend the meeting once.

    Senator Shahadat Awan remarked that instead of calling a meeting, the committee chairman could have directly asked the IGP about the issue.

    “An hour-long meeting costs Rs15 lakh from the national exchequer”, he pointed out.

    Federal Minister of Law and Justice, Azam Nazeer Tarar, said that despite concerns for flood victims, Imran Khan’s rallies were being held and abuses were being hurled. “This forum is not for discussing such matters,” he said.

    On Thursday, Imran Khan’s counsel, Babar Awan, informed the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) that Khan’s life is under threat.

    “IGP and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations will be responsible if something happens to my client,” warned Babar.

  • Vegetable prices soar amid low supply due to floods

    Vegetable prices soar amid low supply due to floods

    Extreme flooding has hampered the supply of perishable items from agricultural areas, driving up the prices of onions and tomatoes in city markets.

    While tomatoes cost Rs400-450 per kilogramme (kg), onions cost Rs350-400 per kg. Onion prices rose by Rs75 per kg week over week in the official rate list, while tomato prices rose by Rs234 per kg.

    The supply chain is hampered by road blockages and transportation restrictions in flood-affected areas, according to The News.

    Onion A-grade cost Rs75 more per kg, was fixed at Rs180-190, and was sold for Rs350-400 per kg. Onion B-grade cost Rs160-167 per kg, was sold for Rs235-250 per kg, and onion C-grade was priced at Rs180-200 per kg.

    Tomato A-grade price increased by Rs234 per kg, maintained at Rs320-330 per kg, sold for Rs400-450 per kg, followed by B-grade price increase to Rs290-300 per kg, C-grade price increase to Rs240-250 per kg, and B&C price increase to Rs350 per kg.

    Chinese carrot prices increased by Rs11 per kg, from Rs80 to Rs85 per kg to Rs120 to Rs160 per kg for sale. Fenugreek (Methi) remained constant at Rs250-260 per kg and was sold for Rs400 per kg.

    This week, the price of chicken also climbed by Rs20 per kg, from Rs240 per kg to Rs280–300 per kg, and the price of chicken meat by Rs30 per kg, from Rs362/kg to Rs380–650/kg.

    Cucumber Farm increased its price by Rs50 per kg, fixed at Rs120-125 per kg, sold at Rs150 per kg, and locally sold cucumbers were sold for Rs200 per kg.

    Brinjal price increased by Rs5 per kg, from Rs86 to Rs90 per kg, and was sold for Rs120 to Rs140 per kg.

    Price of bitter gourd rose by Rs10 per kg, fixed at Rs160-165 per kg, and sold at Rs200 per kg.

    Local lemon prices increased by Rs20 per kg, from Rs235-245 per kg to Rs280-320 per kg when sold. Pumpkin remained at Rs60–63 per kg, sold for Rs80–100 per kg, and pumpkin long was sold for Rs140–150 per kg.

  • UN to launch $160m appeal for the flood victims in Pakistan

    UN to launch $160m appeal for the flood victims in Pakistan

    The United Nat­ions (UN) will launch a $160 million Flash Appeal to help millions of people affected by unprecedented monsoon rains in Pakistan that triggered massive floods.


    “A UN Flash Appeal is going to be launched on Tuesday 30 August simultaneously from Geneva and Islamabad,” said Foreign Office Spokesman Asim Iftikhar.

    “As you can see, the scale of the disaster is so huge that it requires urgent cooperation and support from the international community. We are grateful to the UN, IFIs, and a host of our partners and friendly countries who are stepping forward with assistance,” he said.

    UN Flash Appeal is an internationally recognised tool used to quickly secure funds for United Nations Agencies and non‐government organisations (NGOs), to support a government’s response to an emergency.

    The process is undertaken under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator and in line with clear priorities set by the government.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in his interaction with a group of envoys and diplomats on Friday, August 26, said the government was reaching out to friendly countries, donors, and international financial institutions for their continued cooperation at this difficult time.