ISLAMABAD: Thursday saw intense activity for Islamabad Police, who were occupied with managing protests from the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and a religious group while securing numerous sensitive locations across the capital. Police reported that at least eight officers, including the Tarnol station house officer, were injured during a clash with PTI supporters at Tarnol, where a public meeting had been scheduled but was postponed on the directive of PTI founder Imran Khan from Adiala Jail. The capital administration had revoked the PTI’s no-objection certificate (NOC) for the Tarnol gathering on Wednesday, citing the simultaneous plans of Aalmi Majlis Tahaffuz-i-Nabuwat…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
ISLAMABAD: The Telecom Operators Association has called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to address ongoing internet disruptions that could potentially cost the national economy billions. This appeal comes as significant drops in internet speeds and disruptions to social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp have been reported across Pakistan. In recent weeks, internet users have faced severe connectivity issues, with accusations that the government is deliberately slowing down digital services due to the installation of a new firewall. The government has attributed these problems to VPN usage and faults in submarine cables. Internet expert Doug Madory confirmed the cable fault,…
ISLAMABAD: Top leaders from the ruling PML-N and its key ally, the PPP, met on Thursday to resolve ongoing differences regarding governance and recent policy decisions by the federal and Punjab governments. The meeting, held at the Prime Minister House and followed by a dinner, saw the PPP express dissatisfaction over the lack of implementation of agreements made when the coalition government was formed in February. The PPP delegation, led by Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, shared their grievances with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his cabinet, particularly concerning the Punjab government. They agreed that coordination committees from both parties will meet…
The Punjab police announced on Friday that they have killed the main suspect behind a rocket attack by dacoits in Rahim Yar Khan District’s Machka area, which resulted in the deaths of 12 police officers. Organized criminal gangs have been active in the riverine border areas of southern Sindh and central Punjab for years, often engaging in kidnap-for-ransom schemes. The attack occurred when two police vehicles, carrying about 22 officers, were returning from a camp in the Katcha (riverine) area. Recent rains had made the road muddy, causing one vehicle to break down. The police party was then ambushed by…
QUETTA: A coordinated polio vaccination campaign will be launched on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border next month, responding to a dozen reported cases of the virus in Balochistan this year attributed to cross-border movement. Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries where polio is still endemic. Since January 2024, Pakistan has reported 16 poliovirus cases, with 12 from Balochistan, which borders five Afghan provinces. In a press conference on Thursday, Inamul Haq Qureshi, the Emergency Operation Centre’s Balochistan coordinator, announced a five-day nationwide vaccination campaign starting September 9. This campaign will cover 36 districts in Balochistan and will be…
ISLAMABAD: The government approved a Rs20 billion “special allocation” on Thursday for Operation Azm-i-Istehkam, a major initiative launched three months ago to combat terrorism and extremism. This decision was made during a meeting of the cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), which also authorized the export of 100,000 tonnes of sugar while exempting sugar mills from responsibility for domestic price increases. Presided over by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, the ECC sanctioned supplementary grants totaling Rs2.23 billion for security forces. Of this, Rs1.95 billion was allocated to the Frontier Corps Balochistan (South) for security expenses related to the Reko Diq project, and…
Taylor Swift’s recent security scare has left her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, feeling frustrated and helpless. A source close to the couple told *Life & Style* magazine that the NFL player is deeply concerned about the *Blank Space* singer’s safety in America, especially after a serious security threat emerged in Vienna. “It’s been so horrible,” the insider shared. “He hated having to sit back and do nothing but wait. He wanted to rush to her side to protect her, but obviously, he couldn’t do that.” Despite knowing that Swift had plenty of bodyguards to ensure her safety, Kelce still felt helpless.…
Jennifer Lopez is taking her split from Ben Affleck to the next level by filing to remove “Affleck” from her last name. According to court documents obtained by *Us Weekly* on Thursday, August 22, the 55-year-old star has requested to restore her name to Jennifer Lynn Lopez. The *Boy Next Door* actress cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for their divorce. While Lopez agreed to separate the couple’s assets and debts, she did not detail the “exact nature and extent” of their community and quasi-community property, which will be determined in due time. Additionally, Lopez has opted out of seeking…
Jennifer Lopez played a crucial role in helping Ben Affleck reconnect with his family values before their divorce. According to an insider, the couple prioritized their blended family after marrying in July 2022. “Family is very important to them, and together they were family people—the connection doesn’t end,” the source shared. Affleck, 52, shares three children with ex-wife Jennifer Garner: Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12. Lopez, 55, has twins Max and Emme, 16, with ex-husband Marc Anthony. Since reuniting in 2021, the couple enjoyed numerous family outings with their kids. Recently, Affleck was seen spending quality time with…
Meryl Streep and Martin Short were spotted holding hands at the season four premiere of *Only Murders in the Building*, despite previously denying romance rumors. Their affectionate display at the Los Angeles event on Thursday, August 22, reignited speculation about their relationship as they smiled and posed together. Streep, 75, looked elegant in a black-and-white printed long dress cinched with a wide belt, accessorized with white flats and a matching clutch. Short, 74, chose a classic black suit paired with a burgundy tie featuring a grey design. Their joint appearance comes nearly eight months after Short addressed rumors of a…
