Karachi: Around 250 Pakistani pilgrims are stranded in Syria due to worsening unrest. Local airline Cham Wings has canceled flights to Lahore and Karachi following the rebels’ closure of the airport. Pilgrims expressed fear amid gunfire in Damascus’s Sayyidah Zaynab area as tensions rose. Rebels announced control over Damascus and declared the end of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has activated a Crisis Management Unit and advised the pilgrims to stay in contact with the embassy for assistance. The Foreign Office has urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and exercise extreme caution in Syria.
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
Karachi: Internet connectivity issues in Pakistan are posing a serious threat to the country’s digital future, warns the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (Wispap). The crisis has deeply impacted freelancers, students, and businesses alike. Wispap Chairperson Shehzad Arshad highlighted that these disruptions not only slow progress but also undermine the fragile digital infrastructure. He pointed out that while other nations can withstand such setbacks due to strong economies, Pakistan risks regressing rather than progressing. VPNs, a lifeline for many users, have become entangled in regulatory hurdles, causing difficulties for legitimate users while neglecting critical vulnerabilities. Arshad urged the government to…
Lahore: Aleema Khan, sister of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, revealed that the government offered a deal to release him in exchange for a sit-in at Sangjani. She disclosed this during her media talk outside the anti-terrorism court in Lahore. She accused authorities of deliberately delaying trials and imposing baseless charges. The court directed police to finalize their investigations promptly, marking this as the final warning. The judge noted unnecessary delays in the cases and emphasized the need for timely action. Aleema also highlighted inconsistencies, pointing out how her name was added to new cases while she was in custody.
Karachi: Long-time resident of Safari Park, female elephant Sonia, passed away unexpectedly. Her lifeless body was found in her enclosure this morning. Initial reports suggest a heart attack as the likely cause, pending confirmation after the post-mortem. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab expressed grief, calling Sonia’s death a significant loss for the park. The post-mortem, supervised by veterinary expert Dr. Amir Khalil, will be completed in two days. Previously known as Sonu, Sonia was mistakenly identified as male for 12 years. She was captured from Tanzania at a young age. With Sonia’s death, only two elephants, Malika and Madhubala, remain at…
Islamabad: Amid escalating violence in Syria, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has activated its Crisis Management Unit (CMU) to safeguard its citizens. The Pakistani Embassy in Damascus is actively providing support, with citizens advised to avoid unnecessary travel to Syria. Reports suggest that President Bashar al-Assad’s rule has ended following a rebel offensive, with Damascus now under rebel control. Pakistani nationals in Syria have been urged to remain cautious and stay in contact with the embassy. Emergency contact numbers have been issued, and measures to relocate individuals to safer locations are underway. In response to the crisis, the government has…
Karachi: Karachiites experienced a drop in temperatures to 12.7°C as winter’s first chill gripped the city. The Pakistan Meteorological Department reported northeasterly winds at 7 km/h, with a maximum temperature of 29°C expected during the day. Meanwhile, Quetta recorded a freezing -2°C, with Kalat and Mastung plunging to -7°C and -3°C, respectively. Northern and central parts of Balochistan witnessed frozen water in several areas, coupled with unannounced gas and electricity outages, further complicating daily life. The Met Office earlier predicted a mild cold wave in Sindh, with nighttime temperatures between 7-9°C. On Friday, forecasts of intensified cold due to rain…
Peshawar: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has set a December 8 deadline for the government to finalize the Madrassa Registration Bill. He accused the government of imposing unnecessary reforms on seminaries, potentially pushing them toward extremism. Addressing a gathering in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Maulana Fazlur Rehman stated that pressuring seminaries and criticizing their educational systems was unacceptable. He emphasized that knowledge, whether traditional or modern, holds equal importance. The Minister for Religious Affairs described madrassa registration as essential for integrating them into the educational framework. He added that while finalizing the bill would take time, the registration process would…
Muzaffarabad: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry has ordered the withdrawal of the controversial “Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Ordinance 2024” following widespread public protests. He also directed the release of all individuals detained under the ordinance. The protests, led by the Joint Awami Action Committee, aimed to defend civil rights in the region. Major entry points were blocked, and businesses remained shut during the demonstrations. Although the AJK Supreme Court suspended the ordinance earlier this week, protesters vowed to continue until its formal repeal. Despite the president’s directive, failed negotiations have prompted threats of further protests,…
Lahore: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif dismissed PTI’s proposed civil disobedience campaign, claiming it is bound to fail as the state ensures essential services to the public. According to him, such movements succeed only when citizens are not reliant on the state. Criticizing PTI’s committee for negotiations and its demands, he termed them unrealistic. He further took a jab at Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, suggesting their lack of political insight. Asif labeled PTI’s recent protest a failure, countering claims of arrests and casualties by stating no excessive force was used. The government denied PTI’s allegations and highlighted the…
Pakistani American Community to Hold Peaceful Protest in Dallas Downtown Against U.S. Congressional Interference in Pakistan’s Internal Affairs By: Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada Dallas, Texas – Under the banner of “Stand for Pakistan,” the Pakistani American community has announced a peaceful protest on December 8, 2024, at 2:00 PM at Dallas Grassy Knoll, 114 Elm Street, Dallas, Texas,against the alleged interference by U.S. Congress and Senate members in Pakistan’s internal affairs. The protest aims to promote an accurate and balanced understanding of Pakistan’s political situation and call for mutual respect between the two nations. According to the organizers, Pakistan is…
