Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousuf stated on Monday that Pakistani pilgrims would be provided with excellent Hajj arrangements, but stopped short of making any firm commitment regarding the fate of the country’s 67,000 lapsed quota under the private Hajj scheme, as reported by The News. Speaking at the National Hajj Conference 2025, organized by the Pakistan Ulema Council, the minister clarified that Saudi Arabia’s Hajj policy applies uniformly to all countries. “If the Saudi government grants any relaxation to other countries, then our remaining applicants will also have the opportunity to perform Hajj,” he said.…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
Renowned Chef Zakir Hussain passed away at the age of 58 on Monday night after battling a kidney ailment and undergoing dialysis, according to his nephew, Shayan Qureshi. Shayan stated that Chef Zakir had been receiving medical treatment in the United States. However, doctors had indicated that further medical intervention was unlikely to be effective, leading the celebrated chef to return to Karachi a month ago. The funeral prayer for the beloved chef will be held today, following the Asr prayer, at Jamia Rashidiya, located in Malir, Saudabad. Born on February 16, 1967, in Karachi, Zakir distinguished himself in the…
In Pakistan’s constantly shifting civil-military landscape, stability often hinges on the rapport established between the prime minister and the army chief. Under the leadership of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, the military establishment has found a partner in Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a leader it not only trusts but actively supports. Described by a senior source as “the best,” PM Shehbaz has earned the military’s confidence through a combination of effective governance, sheer diligence, administrative orderliness, cautious diplomacy, and a profound understanding of Pakistan’s power dynamics. Behind closed doors, the sentiment is clear: the military views Shehbaz…
As tensions persist over the controversial canal project, the Sindh government has expressed its willingness to engage in dialogue, with the matter now under the consideration of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “The prime minister will make an appropriate decision on this matter,” said Sanaullah, Special Assistant to the PM on Political Affairs, while Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon emphasized that “whenever talks take place, they will be at the government-to-government level.” Speaking on Geo News’ program “Geo Pakistan” on Tuesday, Sanaullah assured that Sindh’s interests would not be compromised. “[We do not have] any intention to steal even a drop…
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Tuesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in connection with a case involving violence against police during a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest held in Lahore on October 5th. The ATC also issued arrest warrants for three other PTI leaders — Hammad Azhar, Saeed Sindhu, and Shehbaz Ahmed — for failing to join the investigation despite repeated police summons. Police stated that the named individuals were wanted in cases related to the October 5th protest last year, during which PTI workers allegedly attacked law enforcement personnel. According to…
On Tuesday, a suspect facing allegations of the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl was killed after his own accomplices opened fire on the police in a bid to free him from custody. According to the police, the suspect, who was indeed the victim’s maternal uncle, had been apprehended the previous night and was being taken for the recovery of evidence when the assailants shot at the police party, injuring the suspect who succumbed to his injuries while being transported to the hospital. Providing details of the case, the police stated that the suspect was a drug addict —…
Tensions Flare at Houston Qawwali Event: Former MPA by Irum Azeem Farooqi and Police Chief Muzaffar Siddiqui Offer Conflicting Accounts By: Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada HOUSTON : A verbal and physical altercation during a recent Qawwali program in Houston has sparked controversy, with former Member of the Sindh Assembly and ex-MQM leader Irum Azeem Farooqi issuing a clarification regarding the incident involving Houston Police Chief Muzaffar Siddiqui. https://youtu.be/ZvlKeVKY3O0?feature=shared Speaking to Jago Times over the phone, Aram Azeem stated that Muzaffar Siddiqui was the first to initiate the altercation, a fact she claims was witnessed by several others present at the…
The long-running criminal case against a Texas gunman who killed 23 people in a racist attack targeting Hispanic shoppers at a Walmart in El Paso in 2019 is on the verge of coming to a close. Patrick Crusius, 26, is expected to plead guilty Monday to capital murder and receive a sentence of life in prison with no possibility of parole for the massacre near the U.S.-Mexico border. El Paso County District Attorney James Montoya said last month he was offering Crusius a plea deal and that he wouldn’t face the death penalty on the state charge. Crusius has already…
Scores of foreign students across the country are included in a pair of sweeping lawsuits that allege the Trump administration unlawfully stripped them of their legal status amid a broader crackdown on immigration. By CNN’s tally, more than 1,000 students and graduates have had their visas or statuses revoked, undermining their ability to remain in the US and continue their studies. Cases have ranged from high-profile instances involving alleged support of terror organizations to relatively minor offenses, like years-old misdemeanors. While some affected students have brought individual cases, at least two federal lawsuits aim to represent large swaths of students…
Meghan Bannister donned a dress for class, a choice befitting the warm Tallahassee weather. Thursday marked her last day of classes before graduation, but by noon, the Florida State University senior was grappling with the chilling reality of a gunman opening fire on the sprawling campus. Bannister had practiced active shooter drills since fourth grade and heard harrowing accounts from friends who lived through the 2018 Parkland high school massacre. So, when the shots rang out, she and her classmates from various states knew precisely what to do as the school went into lockdown. “We pushed desks against both doors,…
