On the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinians’ right to self-determination. The day, observed annually on November 29, was first proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1977. This year, the commemoration comes amidst a prolonged Israeli offensive on Gaza, which has lasted over 13 months. In retaliation to Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks, Israeli strikes have claimed over 44,300 Palestinian lives and left nearly 105,000 injured, with thousands still buried under the rubble. President Zardari condemned Israel’s…
Author: Web Desk
The Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (Wispap) has requested the interior ministry to extend the deadline for Virtual Private Network (VPN) registration to promote user compliance with the new regulations. VPNs, widely used globally to access restricted or blocked content, have seen increased usage in Pakistan due to bans on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and other websites. Recently, VPN disruptions have caused challenges for users across the country. Earlier this month, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced plans to restrict VPN usage, citing the need to control access to pornographic content. Following this, the interior ministry…
LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is grappling with internal discord following the failure of its “final call” protest in Islamabad. Key party leaders, including Secretary General Salman Akram Raja and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza, have stepped down from their positions, citing mismanagement and infighting as primary reasons. Salman Akram Raja submitted his resignation to party chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, who confirmed its receipt. However, the decision to accept the resignation remains pending until the incarcerated party founder, Imran Khan, reviews it. Until then, Raja has been asked to continue his responsibilities. Separately, SIC chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza…
PESHAWAR/QUETTA: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government announced a three-day mourning period to honor Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers who lost their lives during a protest in Islamabad, which was abruptly ended by a late-night crackdown earlier this week. The announcement was made during an emergency session of the KP Assembly, chaired by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati. Originally scheduled for December 2, the session was convened late on Thursday in response to the incident. KP Assembly Session Speaker Swati strongly condemned the actions against PTI protesters, accusing authorities of denying citizens their constitutional right to peaceful protest. He alleged that unarmed demonstrators were…
ISLAMABAD: The federal government reaffirmed on Thursday that security forces did not fire on participants of the recent PTI protests in the capital. The clarification came during a joint press conference by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. Ahsan Iqbal stated that PTI Chairman Imran Khan is not a political prisoner but faces severe criminal charges. “In any democratic system, no leader would be allowed to evade accountability for such actions,” he said, adding that Khan is accused of corruption and inciting violence, including urging attacks on sensitive installations. Highlighting the May 9 riots, Mr. Iqbal emphasized…
RAWALPINDI: More than 750 individuals detained during the recent PTI protests were presented before the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Thursday. The arrests were made in Rawalpindi, Attock, and Chakwal districts, with suspects brought to ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah by police from these areas. The cases pertained to multiple police stations within these districts. The court granted a five-day physical remand for 77 individuals detained by Sadiqabad police. Similarly, 12 suspects taken into custody by Waris Khan police were remanded for two days, while a four-day physical remand was issued for suspects arrested by New Town police. The…
ISLAMABAD: The lower houses of the parliaments of Pakistan and Russia have formalized an agreement to boost parliamentary cooperation. The agreement was signed in Moscow on Thursday by Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, and Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation. This initiative aims to strengthen ties between the two legislative institutions and establish lasting mechanisms for collaboration through parliamentary committees, commissions, and friendship groups. A five-member parliamentary delegation, led by Mr. Sadiq, is currently on a five-day official visit to Russia. In his opening remarks, Mr. Sadiq emphasized his longstanding friendship with Mr.…
To facilitate aspiring Haj pilgrims, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has instructed 15 designated banks to keep their branches open on Saturday and Sunday across the country. The deadline for submitting Haj applications, along with the required dues for the 2025 pilgrimage, is December 3, 2024. This decision follows a request from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, as confirmed in a press release issued on Thursday. According to the central bank’s directives, the designated bank branches will remain operational from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM on November 30 and December 1, 2024, ensuring maximum convenience for…
Former first lady Bushra Bibi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, and other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders have been booked in seven new criminal cases following recent violent protests across the country. The new cases, registered in Attock, come in the wake of protests that saw confrontations between demonstrators and police. Legal Actions and Accusations The FIRs (First Information Reports) were filed at several police stations, including Hasanabdal, Hazro, and Injra, and name key PTI figures including Bushra Bibi, Leader of the Opposition Omar Ayub, and former president Arif Alvi. The charges include assaulting 119 police officers—three of whom…
Prominent journalist Matiullah Jan was placed in a two-day police remand on charges of terrorism and narcotics possession, sparking widespread outrage and allegations of fabricated accusations aimed at silencing critical journalism. Jan’s arrest comes after reports of his alleged abduction from Islamabad, with rights organizations and journalist bodies strongly condemning the incident. Arrest Details and Allegations Jan was reportedly apprehended last night from the parking area of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad by unidentified individuals. The police later booked him under charges of possessing 246 grams of methamphetamine and committing terrorism-related offenses, as detailed in an…
