Tag: Pakistan

  • Fawad Chaudhry allowed to meet his wife

    Fawad Chaudhry allowed to meet his wife

    Following an intervention by the court, Fawad Chaudhry’s wife has been granted permission to visit him during incarceration.

    Additionally, the court has issued an order directing the provision of medical facilities to Chaudhry in accordance with the jail manual.

    Presiding over the case, Justice Gul Hasan Aurangzeb emphasized the paramount importance of upholding the petitioner’s dignity.

    Expressing concern over incidents akin to Chaudhry’s case, the court referenced the restrictions placed on Asif Zardari and the late former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, underscoring the need to ensure access for individuals to meet their families and lawyers.

    Justice Aurangzeb remarked that such incidents bring shame to the officers involved, highlighting the significance of respecting the rights and dignity of those under legal scrutiny.

    Chief Commissioner Anwar-ul-Haq presented a report before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) regarding the implementation status of Fawad Chaudhary’s plea for permission to meet with lawyers and family members.

    The report revealed that former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry has been granted B-class facilities in jail, and as per the court’s directives, he has been permitted to meet with family and legal representatives.

    In addition, the court sought details regarding the number of cases Chaudhry is involved in, to which his lawyer replied that he only had knowledge of one case. Fawad Chaudhry, a former leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, was arrested on November 4 from his residence on charges of allegedly accepting bribes after promising a job.

    What are the facilities provided to class A or B?

    Superior class prisoners are entitled to books and newspapers, a 21-inch television, a table and a chair, a mattress, personal bedding and clothing and food. The prisoners have to pay for all this themselves. The government is only obligated to provide them security in a high-security ward where they will be kept away from other prisoners.

    Rooms are supplied with a cot, one chair, one teapot, one lantern if there is no electric light, and necessary washing and sanitary appliances. ‘A class’ prisoners may supplement the furniture by other articles within reasonable limit at their own cost, at the discretion of the Superintendent.

    When several superior class prisoners are confined together, two ‘C class’ prisoners may be provided to cook food for them. If a superior class prisoner is confined individually he may be permitted a ‘C class’ prisoner for cooking. One attendant and one cook prisoner may be allowed to superior class prisoners up to 10 in number.

  • Lahore: Teenage driver kills Saudi Arabia returned female medical student after hitting her car

    Lahore: Teenage driver kills Saudi Arabia returned female medical student after hitting her car


    After six of a family were killed in an accident in DHA Phase 7 at the hands of a teenaged driver, another incident has been reported where a medical student’s car got hit by a teenager. The driver was reportedly harassing the girl who had returned from Saudi Arabia. As a quarrel ensued after the collision of the two cars, the underage driver called his family who then opened fire at the victim. She was rushed to the hospital where she died.


    The unfortunate incident occurred in a private housing society in Chung Town, Lahore, on November 4. It has resurfaced as the police added murder charges in the case on Sunday. According to the police report, the girl succumbed to her injuries on Sunday. However, an eyewitness said the girl had died a week after the incident on November 12 but the police added murder sections later.


    New reports are emerging as Tazin’s relatives have appealed to the chief minister in a letter to take notice of the incident, saying the suspect was from an influential family and they were being threatened for pursuing the murder case. They also said the teenager’s family was forcing them to reconcile with them.


    According to a First Information Report (FIR), the underage driver identified, Abdur Rehman, rammed his car into another vehicle, in which the victim was travelling along with her mother and brother, which led to a quarrel. According to the police, the boy called his uncle who then opened fire.
    The female student was identified as Tazin Khan whose family had returned from Saudi Arabia for her education. She was hit with bullets in her abdomen and was shifted to a local hospital in life-threatening condition while the attackers fled the scene.


    In another report, the Chuhng Police had registered a case against the attackers for attempted murder on the complaint of her maternal uncle Rizwanul Haq. The complainant in the case told the police that the suspects had harassed the female members of his family. Consequently, the offenders killed them, Dawn reports.


    The armed men, including Sajid, his brother Amjad, and two unidentified men, ambushed their car, and opened fire at it.


    In a report filed by Azam Malik, Tazin was hit by one of the nine bullets fired by the accused family. Her father kept pleading for her to be taken to hospital but they did not let him, eyewitnesses have stated. Her father was traumatized and pressured to the level that he did not lodge a complaint, deciding instead to leave the country for the safety of his family. Abdur Rehman, the teenaged driver, is hardly 17-years-old and other members of the colony have also complained about him harassing ladies in the park previously, reported Azam. The suspects have secured a pre-arrest bail till November 28 while the police is waiting till then to arrest them. CCPO Lahore has also aimed at including section 311 which is related to maintaining the charges and punishment even if the family forgives the culprit.


    Instants of rash driving by underage drivers are increasing, especially in Lahore. Following the DHA mishap on November 11, Lahore police have registered 4,682 cases and seized hundreds of vehicles during crackdowns over the last 13 days on underage drivers, reports The News.

  • Imran Khan grilled for nine hours by NAB

    Imran Khan grilled for nine hours by NAB

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan faced intense questioning from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Adiala jail on Sunday in the £190 million National Crime Agency (NCA) UK and Al-Qadir University Trust cases as per Geo news.

    Sources revealed that four distinct NAB teams conducted separate interrogations spanning over nine hours, delving into various documents and posing a multitude of questions to the former prime minister.

    The initial team, comprised of an assistant director from NAB Rawalpindi and a member of the Combined Investigation Team, spent approximately two-and-a-half hours investigating Khan.

    Subsequently, a two-member team continued the interrogation, focusing on the £190 million and Al-Qadir University Trust cases.

    Imran Khan is slated to appear in different courts in Islamabad on November 28 and 30 for separate cases.

    Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain of the Official Secrets Act special court mandated Khan’s presence on November 28 for the cipher case, while his appeal against the Toshakhana criminal case conviction is scheduled for a hearing on November 30 before an Islamabad High Court(IHC) bench.

    Despite the Islamabad High Court declaring his jail trial null and void, doubts persist regarding Khan’s appearance for an open trial on November 28 and 30.

    The 71-year-old, who has been in jail since August 5 following a three-year conviction in the Toshakhana case, had his sentence suspended by the IHC on August 29.

    However, a trial court subsequently ordered his rearrest in the cipher case and initiated a trial in jail.

    Khan is sceduled to appear in the special court at the Federal Judicial Complex on Tuesday (tomorrow) for a hearing of cipher case.

    The police, administration and other departments concerned would hold a meeting on Monday to finalise the security plan for him, according to Online.

    Sources said the Special Branch of the police and other relevant departments had started collecting classified information which would help them in planning security for the former premier.

    Police sources said there were three routes to bring Imran Khan to the FJC — one is Peshawar Road, the second is Islamabad Expressway and the third is Murree Road.

    According to sources, Peshawar Road would be the preferred option to bring Imran Khan from jail to the Judicial Complex. The Red Zone is likely to be partially sealed on Tuesday besides important installations in and around the area.

    Sources said the judicial complex would be surrounded by the police and paramilitary forces.

    Important points and roads leading to the judicial complex would likely be sealed. Troops are also likely to be deployed near important places of the capital like Faizabad Zero Point, Srinagar Highway and Red Zone.

  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: MDCAT retest paper goes viral

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: MDCAT retest paper goes viral

    The second retake of the MDCAT exam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has gone viral despite secrecy measures, raising concerns among students. The test was conducted on Sunday across the province in 11 examination centres. More than 40,000 students appeared in the exam.


    The test was conducted by Khyber Medical University (KMU) after the Bluetooth Scandal in the previous attempt conducted by the Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency (ETEA). Neither the students nor the security and administrative staff was allowed to take phones inside the examination centres. Section 144 was imposed with signal jammers installed around the examination centres along with the deployment of 2000 security personnel in the province. Despite all of this, the paper went viral.

    A Twitter user also appreciated the security.


    However, Vice Chancellor KMU Doctor Zia ul Haq told Geo that the paper leaked post-exam, not during the exam. He stressed that the document is public property after the exam. A picture captured with the backdrop of a bedsheet also hints towards the conduction of the exam being transparent.

  • ‘Insensitive’: Waqar Zaka slams Nida Yasir’s claim he tried to sabotage her show

    ‘Insensitive’: Waqar Zaka slams Nida Yasir’s claim he tried to sabotage her show

    Television presenter and cryptocurrency expert Waqar Zaka fired back at actress and morning show host Nida Yasir over her claims that he tried to sabotage her show. In a video statement posted on his social media accounts, Waqar revealed he had complained about Nida’s conduct of hosting morning shows when she invited the parents of a deceased girl who was raped and then murdered. The show was subjected to intense controversy as Nida made the parents cry by asking them invasive and hurtful questions, which caused outrage.

    Waqar said that Nida claimed the parents had themselves requested to be invited on the show in order to gain media support to grant their daughter justice. However, he refuted these claims by sharing the video of an activist interviewing the parents, who revealed they were invited by Nida, rather than the other way round.

    Waqar debunked another claim made by Nida on her show, where she claimed the family had filed an FIR after their appearance. But as Waqar shared in the clip, the activist spoke with the victim’s parents who revealed they had filed it before making their appearance on the morning show.

    Waqar shared that these revelations had created an outrage on social media, which is when in 2020 he had encouraged his followers to file a report with PEMRA, and to message Salman Iqbal, the CEO of ARY, to remove Nida as a host.

    “It is insensitive how Nida exploited a case like this for the sake of getting ratings, and lied so much that she couldn’t even apologise after getting caught later,” said Waqar. “And also remember: a host is always aware of what goes on during the show. If the host approves something, then it appears on the show.”

    Waqar further added it’s time all the elderly hosts sitting on their morning shows should now consider letting go, and giving other young people a chance. He added Nida should host a contest to see who could replace her, and revealed he had complained to Salman Iqbal that other women should be given a platform because Nida was no ‘Oprah’ and nor did she hold any philosophy in her life.

    On Saturday, Nida made headlines when as a guest on Geo’s ‘Hasna Mana Hai’, she revealed Waqar Zaka had tried to sabotage her morning show as well as her career. She added the two were on good terms during the time he worked with the channel, but his demeanour changed when he left.

    “When Waqar left ARY, he started sending emails to the channel’s management, urging them to remove me from my morning show,” she confessed.

  • Pakistan forms new body led my three-star military general to expand tax base

    Pakistan forms new body led my three-star military general to expand tax base

    The government has established a new committee, led by a three-star military general, to oversee data integration efforts aimed at expanding the tax base.

    This move precedes the imminent arrival of a technical mission from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), tasked with assessing Pakistan’s tax system.

    Lieutenant General Muhammad Munir Afsar Chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), will head the technical committee, as notified by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

    The newly formed committee will devise proposals for data integration to expand the tax base and formulate an IT infrastructure transformation plan.

    The eight-member committee, consisting of three senior FBR members, has been tasked with crafting a comprehensive plan for data integration. Their primary objective is to significantly increase the number of income tax return filers, aiming to elevate last year’s count of 4.9 million to 6.5 million within the next eight months, as outlined in an official notification.

    As reported by Express Tribune, Pakistan has shared an FBR restructuring plan with the IMF, outlining the integration of 145 entities into the FBR network to expand the tax base. However, the Prime Minister has withheld approval, instructing further refinement to address ambiguities and contradictions in the proposed restructuring plan.

    This strategic initiative aligns with the impending visit of an IMF technical mission to Pakistan, scheduled to commence next week.

    The mission will conduct a thorough review of the country’s tax laws and FBR’s administrative structure, ultimately delivering recommendations within two months. These suggestions may serve as a foundation for the upcoming IMF program.

  • Karachi: Fire in multi-storey mall leaves 10 dead and 22 injured

    Karachi: Fire in multi-storey mall leaves 10 dead and 22 injured

    A fire broke out in Karachi’s RJ shopping mall on Rashid Minhas road, causing the death of 10 people so far. The incident took place early on Saturday.


    Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab has confirmed the number of casualties and injured, taking to his X (formerly Twitter) account. He also confirmed that the fire has been extinguished, while the cooling process is underway.


    A statement from the Fire and Rescue spokesperson said they were alerted about the incident at 6:30am, after which eight fire tenders, two snorkels and two bowsers were sent to the location.


    Earlier, police surgeon Summaiya Syed told Dawn that nine bodies have been brought to hospitals — eight at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) and one at Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK). Wahab said one was also brought to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.


    She further said that an 18-year-old was currently admitted at CHK.


    District East Deputy Commissioner (DC) Altaf Shaikh, who was personally supervising the rescue operation, said 30 others, including the wounded, were rescued, reported Dawn.


    Experts say around 12,000 to 15,000 people die in hundreds of fire incidents in the country every year. More than 90% of the industries, residential buildings, and structures in Karachi, which is the largest industrial hub of Pakistan, lacked fire safety arrangements as building codes were not being implemented by the authorities concerned, Geo reported citing experts.

  • Cabinet approves seven MoUs for $10 billion investment deal with Kuwait

    Cabinet approves seven MoUs for $10 billion investment deal with Kuwait

    On Friday, during a session of the caretaker federal cabinet, seven Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) for investments between Pakistan and Kuwait were granted approval.

    These agreements are slated to be formally signed during the upcoming visit of the prime minister to the Gulf country, signifying a commitment to fostering economic cooperation and partnership between the two nations.

    The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar.

    As a result of dedicated initiatives by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), both countries will sign MoUs encompassing a range of projects.

    These projects span various sectors, including the expansion of water reservoirs, development of mining facilities, conservation of mangrove forests in coastal areas, advancements in information technology, and initiatives to bolster food security.

    The prime minister, presiding over the session, directed the facilitation of collaboration with the provinces to ensure the prompt and equitable implementation of the projects.

    The caretaker federal cabinet also endorsed the resolutions and actions deliberated upon during the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Affairs (CCLC) meeting held on November 14, 2023.

    Additionally, it gave its approval to the determinations reached in the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) meeting held on November 15, 2023, showcasing a comprehensive review and endorsement of key decisions across various governmental committees.

  • Petition filed for removal of President Arif Alvi

    Petition filed for removal of President Arif Alvi

    A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court against President Arif Alvi for misconduct and failing to carry out his constitutional duties by Ghulam Murtaza under Article 184 section 3.

    The President, Secretary, and the Ministry of Law have been made respondents in the petition.

    In the petition, the Supreme Court has been requested to carry out an inquiry into President Arif Alvi’s conduct, summoning him after investigations, and subsequently removing him from office.

    The petitioner argues that Dr Arif Alvi misused his powers as the president and insulted the office of the president. He states that the president belongs to the entire nation and not just one political party.

    The petitioner alleges that Dr Arif Alvi is guilty of unconstitutional action of having misused his office. He contends that the president neglected his constitutional responsibility, adding that it was the president’s job to give the date for the next general elections, but he failed to do so.

    The petitioner argues that the president was also guilty of illegally dissolving the assembly. He contends that Dr Arif Alvi did not ensure the implementation of the Constitution under Article 5 of the Constitution.

    The petitioner has requested the court to stop Dr Arif Alvi from working as the president and action be taken against him for alleged violations of the constitution and law.

  • Sheikh Rashid’s bail gets extended

    Sheikh Rashid’s bail gets extended

    An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi has granted an extension to the interim bail of former federal minister Sheikh Rashid in connection with 10 cases related to the May 9 riots.

    The bail has now been extended until December 9, following a hearing presided over by ATC Judge Malik Ejaz Asif.

    During the proceedings, the court adjourned the hearing at the request of the public prosecutor, instructing both sides to present their arguments in the upcoming session.

    Addressing the court, Rashid asserted that although there are a dozen cases against him related to the May 9 riots, he was not personally present at any of the locations in question.

    After the hearing, while speaking to the media, Rashid urged those responsible to focus on the country’s declining economic conditions and added that the people are concerned with inflation and not elections.

    Referring to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s return, the Awami Muslim League (AML) leader said that elections are “imminent”.

    On election day, people roaming in Murree “will face the music,” he said.