Deed Indicates Government’s Direct Involvement in Settlement Islamabad: Did Imran Khan’s government play a role in facilitating the £190 million repatriation settlement with the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA)? The confidentiality deed signed by Mirza Shahzad Akbar, then head of the Asset Recovery Unit (ARU), suggests direct government involvement. Key Points: The deed bound the Government of Pakistan (GoP) to keep the agreement’s details confidential. Akbar, despite his claims of no government role, signed a deed that indicated the government’s involvement in the settlement process. The deed grants the GoP the power to manage any public communication or disclosure regarding…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
Sindh Government Criticizes “Swap” Remark, Calls It Insulting Trade leader Atiq Mir’s humorous comment suggesting a swap of Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah with Punjab’s Maryam Nawaz has sparked reactions from the Sindh government. PPP representatives strongly defended CM Shah’s governance and criticized the remark as disrespectful to Sindh’s democratic mandate. Key Points: Atiq Mir clarified that his statement was made in jest, not as a serious proposal. Sindh spokesperson Saadia Javed condemned the comment, calling it sycophantic and against the public mandate. PPP leaders highlighted Shah’s developmental achievements and defended his leadership in Sindh. Mir later released a…
Oversaw US Relations with Pakistan, Faced Allegations by Imran Khan The US State Department has confirmed the departure of Donald Lu, assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs, upon completing his term on January 17, 2025. Lu had been leading the bureau managing US-Pakistan relations since September 15, 2021. Key Events and Controversies: Former PM Imran Khan accused Lu of orchestrating his removal in April 2022, alleging a “foreign conspiracy.” The cipher controversy (commonly called “ciphergate”) emerged from Khan’s claims of a US-backed plot against his government. Both Lu and the State Department repeatedly denied the allegations,…
Two-Member Bench Raises Questions on Committees’ Authority A two-member bench of the Supreme Court has withdrawn the contempt notice against Additional Registrar (Judicial) Nazar Abbas and referred the case to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi for the constitution of a full court to resolve the issue of committees’ powers regarding case assignments. Key Highlights of the Judgment: The bench found no evidence of mala fide intent or personal interest against the Additional Registrar, discharging the contempt notice. The committees’ administrative actions to withdraw and reassign cases were deemed unlawful. A full court is recommended to authoritatively decide the matter. Bench’s Observations:…
Six Dead, 33 Injured, Several Homes Destroyed A gas-filled tanker explosion in Hamid Pur Kanora’s Industrial Estate, Multan, left six dead and 33 injured. The blast caused a massive fire and extensive damage to nearby residential areas. Key Details: The explosion destroyed 20 houses completely and partially damaged 70 others. The deceased include a minor girl and two women. Thirteen of the injured are reported to be in critical condition. The incident occurred at an illegal LPG refilling warehouse where gas was being transferred from large tankers to smaller cylinders. Rescue Efforts: The fire was extinguished after hours of effort…
Female voters in 18% of communities diverged from male voters in choice of candidates, says Fafen In its latest report, the Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen) revealed that during the 2024 general elections, female voters in 18% of communities chose different winners than their male counterparts. According to the report, 82% of communities witnessed male and female voters electing the same candidate. However, where results differed, urban areas showed more divergence than rural areas. Islamabad topped the list with 37% of communities showing different winners among male and female voters, followed by Balochistan at 32%, Sindh at 19%, and…
Weather department predicts daytime temperature to rise to 26°C–28°C, with nighttime lows of 11°C–13°C Karachi: Weather analysts expect a slight increase in Karachi’s temperature starting Monday or Tuesday, with daytime temperatures likely to reach 26°C–28°C and nighttime lows dropping to 11°C–13°C. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasts that the weather will remain cold and dry over the next 24 hours. The minimum temperature in Karachi today is expected to range from 9°C to 11°C. Humidity levels are at 41%, with winds blowing from the northeast at a speed of 11 km/h. On January 21, the PMD issued a drought alert…
Federal government refuses to respond to PTI demands; PTI insists on forming a judicial commission ISLAMABAD: The federal government has refused to address Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) demands before January 28, insisting that any response regarding the judicial commission will be given in the next round of talks. PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui, serving as the spokesperson for the government’s negotiation committee, stated that the government would not provide a response before the agreed seven-day deadline. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan declared that the negotiation process had officially ended after the completion of the deadline. He emphasized the need for a…
By: Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada Dallas: A group of American healthcare professionals, including a majority of Pakistani-American citizens, currently in Gaza for humanitarian work, has been stopped by Israeli authorities in northern Gaza. These medical professionals, who had traveled to the region on a mission to serve humanity, are now unable to leave due to restrictions imposed by Israeli officials. Their families are deeply concerned about their safety. These medical professionals have been saving the lives of the most vulnerable individuals in Gaza, but the blockade prevents them from moving south. Among them are surgeons who are eager to return…
By: Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada Texas: Hundreds of people gathered today in Dallas, Fort Worth, and Waco, North Texas, to protest against the Trump administration’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants. Despite cold and harsh weather, four separate demonstrations were held in different cities, drawing significant participation. In Dallas, hundreds of protesters convened at the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge in West Dallas. Demonstrators carried flags of Mexico, El Salvador, and Honduras and held signs with messages such as “No human being is illegal on stolen land” and “Immigrants make America great.” The Dallas Police Department monitored the protests and ensured that participants…
