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			<title>Ministers slam Fazl over opposition to K-P governor’s rule, say he wanted role in new setup</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635240/naqvi-takes-veiled-swipe-at-political-party-chief-over-k-p-governorship</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 26 15:25:14 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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				<![CDATA[Interior Minister Naqvi says political chief was “extremely angry” over being denied role in K-P governor’s rule]]>
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				<![CDATA[Federal government ministers on Friday criticised Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman over his opposition to governor&rsquo;s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, alleging that his stance stemmed from his failure to secure a role in the new provincial setup.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi criticised &quot;a political party&rsquo;s chief&quot; over his opposition to the imposition of governor&rsquo;s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, saying the politician was &ldquo;extremely angry&rdquo; over not being given a role in the move or being offered the governorship.

In an informal conversation with journalists in Lahore, Naqvi said the politician had spent several decades pursuing politics with the support of the establishment.

&ldquo;This was the same politician who used to get even the air tickets for his political party arranged through the establishment,&rdquo; he said.

Read: Sanaullah links reversal of K-P governor&#39;s rule to PTI support for counterterrorism efforts

&ldquo;Such politicians do not look good pointing fingers at others today,&rdquo; Naqvi said, adding that political differences were part of politics but discussions should be based on arguments and facts rather than &ldquo;uncivilised language&rdquo; and allegations.

Although Naqvi did not name the politician, his remarks appeared to refer to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who has categorically rejected the government&rsquo;s decision to impose governor&rsquo;s rule and an emergency in the province.

Naqvi also criticised political leaders who had recently expressed concern over the resources of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), questioning their silence during the years when the districts were not receiving their due share.

&ldquo;When the former Fata districts were not receiving their rightful share for several years, why were these people silent at the time?&rdquo; he asked.

&ldquo;Why did they not remember to issue any statement for the rights of the people of former Fata at that time?&rdquo; he added.

The interior minister said the rights and resources of the people of former Fata should be kept above political interests.

He said K-P was facing serious security challenges and urged political leaders to contribute to restoring peace and stability.

&ldquo;Political leaders should play their role in restoring law and order and eliminating terrorism instead of fanning the flames and spreading unrest,&rdquo; Naqvi said, adding that the province needed peace, stability and collective efforts rather than political confrontation.

Also Read: Fazl didn&#39;t set conditions for mediation

The remarks came after the federal government imposed an emergency and governor&rsquo;s rule in K-P on Sunday, dismissing the PTI-led provincial government. The move drew criticism from opposition parties, including Fazl, Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP) Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai and PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan.

Fazl was central to recent political developments surrounding negotiations between the government and the opposition, with both sides agreeing to his role as a mediator in a bid to find a way forward.

However, despite several rounds of talks, no breakthrough could be achieved, and the government imposed governor&rsquo;s rule and an emergency in the province, a move rejected by the JUI-F chief.

Speaking to the media earlier this week, Fazl accused the government of backing out of negotiations with the PTI and the opposition despite initially agreeing to their demands.

&ldquo;I am a witness to the fact that the government backed out after agreeing to the demands,&rdquo; he said, questioning why it had reneged on its commitment.

A day earlier, addressing the Mufti Mahmood conference in Multan, Fazl criticised the imposition of governor&rsquo;s rule and an emergency in K-P, alleging that the government was using the security situation to justify its actions, while arguing that Balochistan faced even greater security challenges.

&ldquo;If governor&rsquo;s rule is being imposed because of law and order, and an emergency is being declared for the same reason, then Balochistan would have been the more deserving province,&rdquo; he said.

He also alleged that the emergency had placed the resources of the former tribal areas under federal control, despite those resources having become part of the province following the merger.

Fazl said the Constitution guaranteed autonomy to the four provinces within the federation, including authority over their resources and legislation. However, he said, provincial autonomy had repeatedly been undermined.

&ldquo;This is not a confederation in which a unit can seek independence and separate whenever it wishes. It is a federation in which all units and provinces have control over their resources and the authority to legislate,&rdquo; he said.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also criticised JUI-F chief for opposing governor&rsquo;s rule in K-P, describing his stance as &ldquo;utter dishonesty&rdquo; and an injustice to the people of the province.

Speaking on a private television programme, Naya Pakistan, the minister said some political leaders were opposing the move because they had expected to be given a role in the new administrative setup but were now making statements after being overlooked.

&ldquo;Those whose names you have mentioned have taken a stance because they were not given a role, or their nominees were not accommodated,&rdquo; Asif said when asked about the Awami National Party (ANP) and JUI-F&rsquo;s continued opposition to governor&rsquo;s rule and the imposition of an emergency in the province.

Recalling the formation of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government, he said the establishment had called a meeting at which it was decided that elections should be held immediately. However, &ldquo;the people whose names you have mentioned&rdquo; were not in favour of holding elections at the time.

&ldquo;They said they wanted to run their meters for a year. They ran them, and within a year the entire political landscape changed,&rdquo; Asif said, referring to developments following the successful no-confidence motion against the PTI government.

He said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had favoured immediate elections and that he himself had supported the idea.

&ldquo;When Shehbaz Sharif went to that meeting, I told him to hold elections after a month,&rdquo; Asif said, adding that the political leaders in question had been focused on material gains even then.

The minister said the parties were still unhappy because they had not been given power. According to him, they had viewed the dismissal of the PTI government as another opportunity to play a more prominent role, but their expectations had not been met.

Asif also criticised the JUI-F for what he described as its failure to condemn terrorism and stand with the armed forces following the deaths of soldiers.

&ldquo;None of them came to offer funeral prayers. They should have led those prayers,&rdquo; he said.

Rejecting allegations that Pakistan was handing over mines to the United States, the defence minister said the matter had remained limited to discussions.

&ldquo;These are only talks. No contract has been awarded to them, and no mines or mineral resources have been handed over to them,&rdquo; he said.

Maryam Nawaz laments Fazl statements

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also lamented Fazl&#39;s statements, saying she had not expected a senior politician who had himself been a victim of terrorism to support those backing terrorism.

In a statement on X, she said it was &ldquo;extremely regrettable&rdquo; that instead of holding those responsible for K-P&rsquo;s destruction through &ldquo;incompetence, inefficiency and corruption&rdquo; accountable, statements were being issued in their support.

&ldquo;Those whose support is being expressed should be asked whether they attended even a single funeral of a martyr in 13 years,&rdquo; Maryam said.



&ldquo;Instead, terrorists were provided shelter, nurtured and given resources, hideouts and the land of the province to launch attacks on Pakistan,&rdquo; she alleged.

The chief minister said the province&rsquo;s valuable resources had been spent on sit-ins and protests, while 13 precious years had been &ldquo;wasted on corruption and incompetence&rdquo;.

Referring to the military leadership, Maryam said Fazl&rsquo;s remarks about the army chief who had led the country to a &ldquo;historic victory&rdquo; in the &ldquo;Battle of Truth&rdquo; and under whose leadership Pakistan had been given the honour of protecting the Holy Mosques had hurt every patriotic Pakistani.

&ldquo;Officers and soldiers of the Pakistan Army are still taking bullets to eradicate the scourge of terrorism,&rdquo; she said.

&ldquo;Every day, someone&rsquo;s son, someone&rsquo;s brother and someone&rsquo;s husband returns home wrapped in the national flag,&rdquo; she added, saying it was not befitting of Fazl to stand with those obstructing the fight against terrorism instead of paying tribute to the martyrs and supporting the army.

Read More: Achakzai warns Sindh could be next to face governor&rsquo;s rule

Maryam said Fazl&rsquo;s party had itself suffered from terrorism, with several of its members killed, while highlighting the PTI&rsquo;s inappropriate remarks and personal attacks against the JUI-F chief.

&ldquo;And those whom you are standing with today had, only yesterday, used extremely inappropriate language against you and made personal attacks,&rdquo; she said.

&ldquo;For the victims of terrorism to stand with those backing terrorism is something I cannot understand,&rdquo; she added.

She also held the PTI responsible for the end of her government in K-P.

Azma questions Fazl&#39;s motives

Separately, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari also criticised Fazl over what she called another &ldquo;irresponsible&rdquo; statement, saying his support for &ldquo;backers of terrorists&rdquo; was regrettable.

In a statement on X, Bokhari said the federal government, rather than the PTI, was not responsible for the deprivation faced by the former Fata districts, where the PTI had remained in power for 13 years.

She said questions about funds allocated for former Fata and the lack of development work there should be directed to the PTI founder and his party.



&ldquo;Maulana Fazlur Rehman and his party have themselves been targeted by terrorist attacks several times. Such a statement does not befit Maulana Fazlur Rehman,&rdquo; she said.

Questioning Fazl&rsquo;s motives, Bokhari asked what he was trying to achieve through such &ldquo;irresponsible statements&rdquo;.

&ldquo;Do politics, but do not ridicule institutions and martyrs,&rdquo; she said, adding that Fazl had also made &ldquo;disrespectful&rdquo; remarks about martyrs some time ago.

Also Read: Governor&#39;s rule imposed in K-P for fourth time

She said the nation had expressed strong anger over his previous statement.

&ldquo;The PTI is the B-team of terrorist organisations; this is no longer a secret,&rdquo; Bokhari said.

She added that the federal government had not imposed governor&rsquo;s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa &ldquo;out of choice&rdquo;.

&ldquo;Governor&rsquo;s rule was imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa because of the PTI government&rsquo;s pro-terrorist policies,&rdquo; she said.

Bokhari said Fazl should express regret over his statement, which she said had caused deep grief and anger among the people.

&ldquo;Such irresponsible statements from a mature politician are unacceptable,&rdquo; she added.]]>
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			<title>Suspected mastermind behind Kohat Police Lines suicide attack killed in Lakki Marwat operation</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635243/suspected-mastermind-behind-kohat-police-lines-suicide-attack-killed-in-lakki-marwat-operation</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 26 16:44:43 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Ghulam Akbar Marwat]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Police say Zahid Gul facilitated suicide bombing, financed militant groups with Rs6 million from bank robbery]]>
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				<![CDATA[A suspected mastermind behind the suicide attack on the old Kohat Police Lines, terrorist commander Zahid Gul, was killed during a joint intelligence-based operation conducted by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) police and security forces in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa&#39;s Lakki Marwat district on Friday, police officials said.

Last month, at least 21 people, including 15 police personnel and six civilians, were killed in the blast at a mosque in Kohat&rsquo;s Police Lines during Friday prayers.

According to officials, the operation was carried out in the Wolai Sagai area, adjacent to the Bettani subdivision of Lakki Marwat, formerly known as Frontier Region Lakki, on the basis of intelligence reports. Gul, who was wanted by law enforcement agencies and was affiliated with the proscribed Gul Bahadur group, was killed during the operation.

Police officials alleged that Gul had played a key role in planning and facilitating the suicide attack on the old Kohat Police Lines. He had allegedly guided the suicide bomber, who was driving an explosives-laden vehicle, to the target.

Read: Initial probe reveals terrorists planned prolonged siege in Kohat Police Lines attack

Officials further claimed that Gul was involved in a bank robbery in the Bilitang area of Kohat, in which Rs6 million was looted. The money was subsequently distributed among militant groups operating in the Baka Khel and Jani Khel areas of Bannu, they said.

According to police, Gul maintained close links with the Gul Bahadur group and had facilitated the arrival of several suicide bombers in Kohat for carrying out attacks.

Officials said that around two months ago, Gul had also brought a suicide bomber to attack the new Kohat Police Lines. However, the plan was foiled by law enforcement agencies.

Police further alleged that a Pakistan Air Force installation and the police training school in Kohat were among the potential targets of future attacks planned by the slain commander.

Officials said other members of the militant network had already been taken into custody by law enforcement agencies.

The allegations against Gul and details of the operation were provided by police officials. No independent confirmation of the claims was cited in the account.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan condemns Indian defence minister's remarks threatening military aggression</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635193/pakistan-condemns-indian-defence-ministers-remarks-threatening-military-aggression</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635193/pakistan-condemns-indian-defence-ministers-remarks-threatening-military-aggression#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 26 09:40:07 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[FO warns of forceful response to any attack, urges New Delhi to abandon its belligerent posture and dangerous rhetoric]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan on Friday rejected and condemned &quot;provocative remarks&quot; by India&#39;s defence minister threatening aggression against Pakistan, warning that any military action would be met with a forceful response.

&ldquo;Restraint and commitment to peace must never be mistaken for weakness. Any aggression will be met with a forceful response,&rdquo; Foreign Office spokesperson Ambassador Sajjad Haider Khan said during the weekly press briefing.

He said the remarks reflected India&#39;s &ldquo;hegemonistic mindset&rdquo; and the risks its &ldquo;belligerent posture&rdquo; posed to regional peace and stability in South Asia.

Khan reminded India of the consequences of its military aggression in May 2025, saying Pakistan had demonstrated its capability and resolve to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity and had delivered a befitting response.

&ldquo;Let there be no ambiguity. Pakistan remains fully prepared to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity against any ill-advised aggression,&rdquo; he said.

He urged India to draw appropriate lessons from last year&#39;s events, abandon its belligerent posture and dangerous rhetoric, and act responsibly to ensure lasting peace in the region.



🔴LIVE: Spokesperson&#39;s Weekly Press Briefing 16-10-2026 at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad https://t.co/QHDzTMW4b7
&mdash; Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 16, 2026


The FO also strongly condemned the latest Houthi attack targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, reaffirming its support for Saudi Arabia&#39;s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security.

Khan said Pakistan remained deeply concerned over continuing attacks against Saudi Arabia and reiterated Islamabad&#39;s solidarity with the kingdom. &ldquo;Pakistan underscores that attacks against civilian populations and critical infrastructure are unacceptable and constitute a grave threat to regional peace and security,&rdquo; he said.

The spokesperson added that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkiye had issued a joint statement on October 11 under the R4 Group Framework, condemning continuing Houthi attacks, including the strike on King Khalid International Airport.

The four countries reaffirmed their solidarity with Saudi Arabia, supported its measures to protect its territory and population, and called for an immediate and unconditional cessation of the attacks.

On Palestine, Khan said Pakistan had joined the foreign ministers of 18 other countries in condemning Colombia&#39;s inauguration of its embassy in Jerusalem, describing the move as contrary to relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and detrimental to the two-state solution.

In a joint statement issued on Friday, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Sudan and T&uuml;rkiye rejected the move.



🔊PR No.2️⃣9️⃣0️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣

Joint Statement by the Foreign Ministers of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Sudan and T&uuml;rkiye

🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/DEkSfSUmsE
&mdash; Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 16, 2026


Pakistan urges Kabul to act against terrorists

Highlighting Pakistan&#39;s counterterrorism efforts, Khan said Dar had addressed an international conference on Pakistan&#39;s evolving counterterrorism landscape, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), cross-border threats and regional security, organised by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad on October 12.

According to the spokesperson, Dar reaffirmed Pakistan&#39;s resolve to combat terrorism in all its forms and called on Afghan authorities to take &ldquo;concrete, verifiable and irreversible action against groups operating from Afghan soil&rdquo; against Pakistan.

He also highlighted the threat posed by &ldquo;Indian-sponsored terrorist groups operating against Pakistan&rdquo;, including those originating from Afghan territory.

Khan said the deputy prime minister had outlined counterterrorism measures, including the implementation of the National Action Plan, Operation Azm-e-Istehkam and enhanced intelligence coordination. He also paid tribute to the armed forces and law enforcement agencies for their sacrifices.

Pakistan reiterates stance on Jammu and Kashmir

On Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the spokesperson reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s position that India&rsquo;s actions on August 5, 2019, to divide the region into parts were illegal and void.

&ldquo;We have been saying it repeatedly and cannot alter the fact that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognised disputed territory whose final status has to be determined in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and as per the wishes of the Kashmiri people,&rdquo; he said.

Pakistan condemns forced displacement of Palestinians

Commenting on the continued displacement of Palestinian refugees in the occupied West Bank and reports that displaced residents of the Tulkarm refugee camp would not be allowed to return, Khan stated that Pakistan considered the forced displacement of Palestinians and attempts to prevent their return serious violations of international law.

Read:&nbsp;Israeli occupiers attack olive pickers in central West Bank, torch 3 vehicles

He said such actions undermined the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people and called on the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to intervene to halt unlawful evictions, uphold the right of displaced Palestinians to return and hold the occupying power accountable for its ongoing violations.

The spokesperson reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s support for the Palestinian people&rsquo;s right to self-determination and its call for the establishment of a viable, independent and contiguous Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Pakistan, Oman agree to expand cooperation

Turning to bilateral relations, the spokesperson said Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al-Busaidy visited Pakistan from October 13 to 14 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

The two foreign ministers co-chaired the eighth session of the Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial Commission, reviewing bilateral relations and agreeing to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, energy, maritime connectivity, information technology and workforce mobility, he added.

Khan further said five agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed during the visit, along with a protocol recording the proceedings of the commission&#39;s session. The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international developments and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening longstanding ties.

Separately, Dar met Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev on October 14, he said. The meeting reviewed the positive trajectory of Pakistan-Russia relations, with both sides discussing greater cooperation in trade, investment, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

They also underscored the importance of continued coordination at multilateral forums, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, he added.

Dar holds calls with regional counterparts

The spokesperson said Dar held a telephone conversation with Maldivian Foreign Minister Ertugrul Hisham Adem on October 10 to discuss preparations for President Mohamed Muizzu&#39;s forthcoming visit to Pakistan.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and agreed to remain in close coordination to ensure a substantive and productive visit.

On October 15, Dar held separate telephone conversations with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss regional and international developments.

During his conversation with Abdelatty, Dar emphasised the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in addressing regional challenges and reaffirmed Pakistan&#39;s support for de-escalation efforts.

His discussion with Fidan covered the situation in Gaza and Palestine, as well as preparations and strategy for the forthcoming Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Iraq.

The spokesperson said both conversations underscored the importance of continued engagement and close coordination to promote peace and stability.

Pakistan, EU discuss legal migration pathways

On Pakistan&#39;s engagement with the European Union, the spokesperson said Dar met European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner in Islamabad on October 13.

The two sides reviewed bilateral relations and discussed cooperation on migration and mobility under the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan.

Dar highlighted Pakistan&#39;s efforts to combat irregular migration, migrant smuggling and human trafficking, stressing that these measures should be accompanied by greater opportunities for legal migration for skilled Pakistani workers and professionals.

Brunner appreciated Pakistan&#39;s progress in curbing irregular migration and acknowledged the potential for expanding legal migration pathways, Khan said.

Responding to a question, the spokesperson said Pakistan had made significant progress in curbing irregular migration to Europe, with EU figures recording a decline of around 64 per cent over the past 18 months.

He added that the achievement reflected Pakistan&#39;s sustained efforts to strengthen border management, improve institutional capacity, combat human smuggling and human trafficking, and enhance international cooperation.

Khan further said Pakistan had emphasised in its interactions with the EU that migration and mobility was one of the pillars of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan, signed in 2019, and that efforts to curb irregular migration should be complemented by greater opportunities for safe, orderly and legal migration.

&ldquo;In this spirit, Pakistan and the EU launched the Migration and Mobility Dialogue back in November 2022, and the dialogue is a win-win template, since it affords an opportunity for both sides to take this opportunity forward,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;In Europe, they are short of labour, and in Pakistan we have sufficient labour workforce,&rdquo; he added

IAEA completes first nuclear security mission in Pakistan

The spokesperson also announced the successful conclusion of the International Atomic Energy Agency&#39;s (IAEA) International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) mission to Pakistan on October 9.

The mission reviewed Pakistan&#39;s national legal and regulatory framework governing nuclear security. The IAEA team appreciated the country&#39;s cooperation, transparency and professionalism during the review.

Khan said the completion of the first-ever IPPAS mission to Pakistan reflected Islamabad&#39;s commitment to strengthening nuclear security and promoting international cooperation for the safe, secure and peaceful application of nuclear technology.

Digital reforms to facilitate document attestation

Separately, Dar witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Higher Education Commission and the Inter-Boards Coordination Commission to integrate their databases.

The initiative aims to streamline the attestation and verification of educational documents, improve transparency and expand access to digital services for Pakistanis at home and abroad, the spokesperson said.

He added that the initiative would reduce delays and eliminate the need for physical visits, making consular services more accessible and efficient.

Responding to a question about the inquiry into alleged irregularities in attestation services and reports of officials being taken into custody, the spokesperson said the Foreign Office was progressively digitising attestation and apostille services to make them faster, more transparent and more accessible.

He said e-attestation had been launched through the ministry&#39;s portal, while the transition towards e-apostille was underway, including online applications, electronic payments, digital verification and e-certifications.

Eligible applicants could also be exempted from physical appearances, subject to prescribed safeguards, a measure that would particularly facilitate overseas Pakistanis. &ldquo;This is a massive leap forward,&rdquo; he said, adding that the process was ongoing and had been personally steered by the deputy prime minister and foreign minister.

The spokesperson said the memorandum of understanding signed between the FO and the Higher Education Commission would enable greater integration among stakeholders, replacing manual application and processing procedures with automation.

Regarding the inquiry, he clarified that the committee was constituted from outside the ministry and was continuing its work. &ldquo;They will be announcing their proceedings once it is completed,&rdquo; he added.]]>
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			<title>PM reaffirms Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks in meeting with newly appointed envoy</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635195/pm-reaffirms-pakistans-support-for-saudi-arabia-amid-houthi-attacks-in-meeting-with-newly-appointed</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635195/pm-reaffirms-pakistans-support-for-saudi-arabia-amid-houthi-attacks-in-meeting-with-newly-appointed#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 26 10:02:03 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Islamabad]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Dar wishes Ambassador Albugamy a successful tenure in Pakistan]]>
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				<![CDATA[Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to standing &ldquo;shoulder to shoulder&rdquo; with Saudi Arabia in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, while strongly condemning the recent escalation in Houthi attacks against the kingdom.

&ldquo;The prime minister reaffirmed that Pakistan stood shoulder to shoulder with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity,&rdquo; the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office said in a statement following Shehbaz&rsquo;s meeting with newly appointed Saudi Ambassador Dr Rajeh Tami Albugamy.

The prime minister &ldquo;strongly condemned the recent escalation in Houthi attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia&rdquo;, which had resulted in &ldquo;the loss of precious lives and injuries to scores of innocent people, including Pakistani nationals&rdquo;, the statement added.

&ldquo;He underlined that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had always stood by each other,&rdquo; it added.



The newly arrived Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Dr. Rajeh Tami Albugamy, called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.

Welcoming the Ambassador to Pakistan, the Prime Minister congratulated him on assuming his new responsibilities and wished him success in&hellip; pic.twitter.com/WZe2TXUuji
&mdash; Prime Minister&#39;s Office (@PakPMO) October 16, 2026


PM Shehbaz said the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement and the Makkah Joint Defence Alliance marked &ldquo;historic milestones&rdquo; in the countries&rsquo; longstanding fraternal relations and reflected their &ldquo;shared commitment to regional peace and security&rdquo;.

The prime minister also noted that Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations had &ldquo;witnessed remarkable progress in recent years&rdquo; and reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to &ldquo;further strengthening existing institutional mechanisms to deepen and broaden bilateral cooperation across various sectors&rdquo;.

The premier welcomed Albugamy to Pakistan, congratulated him on assuming his new responsibilities and wished him success in his diplomatic assignment.

He also thanked the Saudi leadership for its &ldquo;longstanding economic and financial support to Pakistan&rdquo; and assured the ambassador of Pakistan&rsquo;s full support and cooperation in further strengthening the two countries&rsquo; longstanding fraternal ties, the statement said.



The newly arrived Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Dr. Rajeh Tami Albugamy called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, today. pic.twitter.com/Vmy1JUfShD
&mdash; Prime Minister&#39;s Office (@PakPMO) October 16, 2026


Separately, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also met Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s newly appointed Ambassador to Pakistan, Albugamy, in Islamabad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said in a post on X.

According to the ministry, Dar &ldquo;underscored the longstanding fraternal bonds and strategic partnership between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia&rdquo; and reaffirmed the two countries&rsquo; &ldquo;shared commitment to further strengthen bilateral cooperation for mutual progress and prosperity&rdquo;.

The newly appointed Saudi ambassador conveyed greetings from the Saudi leadership to Pakistan&rsquo;s leadership and people, the ministry said.

Dar reciprocated with &ldquo;warm greetings and best wishes&rdquo; for Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al Saud, and the people of Saudi Arabia.

The deputy prime minister also wished Ambassador Albugamy a successful tenure in Pakistan, the statement added.



The newly appointed Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan, H.E. Dr. Rajeh Tami Albugamy, called on Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 in Islamabad today.

The DPM/FM underscored the longstanding fraternal bonds and&hellip; pic.twitter.com/dCMsROmFUa
&mdash; Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 16, 2026


Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye agreed to move immediately towards implementing their collective defence commitments and deploying agreed military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia. The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the Strategic-Political and Defence Committee of the Makkah Alliance for Defence in Riyadh on October 5.

Under the decision, the committee directed the necessary measures to provide the agreed forces and capabilities and ensure their rapid deployment in Saudi Arabia, in accordance with approved arrangements and the national legislation of the three countries. It said the move would enhance &ldquo;readiness, military integration, and the collective capacity to confront and counter threats&rdquo;.

On August 7, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye formalised their longstanding strategic relationship through the newly signed MJDA, a trilateral security framework that its proponents describe as a defensive arrangement aimed at strengthening collective deterrence, enhancing military cooperation and promoting regional stability.

Houthi attacks

Houthis have repeatedly carried out missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia since the Yemen war escalated in 2015, targeting military installations, airports, oil facilities and other critical infrastructure.

Saudi authorities said attacks on October 6 and 7 killed three people and injured 36 others, including a Pakistani national. On October 11, a further strike on Riyadh airport killed at least 12 people and injured more than 300, while a subsequent attack on October 12 killed a Pakistani resident and injured 11 others.

The attacks disrupted airport operations, with flights suspended or cancelled, while the Houthis also claimed an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam.

In September 2019, the group claimed responsibility for drone attacks on Saudi Aramco&rsquo;s Abqaiq processing facility and Khurais oil field, attacks that temporarily disrupted more than half of Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s crude production.

The attacks continued in subsequent years, including strikes on Saudi energy infrastructure in March 2022.

More recently, Houthi attacks have again targeted Saudi territory. In September, the group claimed missile and drone strikes on a Saudi military base and other targets, while Saudi authorities reported attacks affecting several cities.

It is worth noting that on September 25, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye senior military leadership strongly condemned attacks targeting the holy city of Makkah as they reaffirmed their commitment to the collective defence of the Kingdom under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.

Read: Makkah defence alliance agrees to &#39;rapid force deployment&#39; in Saudi Arabia: FO

A day after that, Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman reaffirmed continued joint efforts to confront attacks targeting Makkah and civilian and economic facilities in the Kingdom during a meeting with the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.

Then, on September 27, Defence Minister Asif also reiterated the resolve to implement the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement amid the rising Houthis attacks on Saudi Arabia and said that both Pakistan and T&uuml;rkiye would stand with Saudi Arabia practically and diplomatically in case of any aggression.

Asif further stressed that protecting Saudi Arabia fell under divine duty.

&quot;If there wasn&#39;t an agreement, if Saudi Arabia had been attacked, especially if the sacred cities of Makkah and Madinah were attacked, then we are bound by an eternal agreement; that is, we will protect the House of God and Madinah,&quot; he stated in an interview to a private channel.

He also outlined that the &quot;worldly agreement&quot; referring to the MJDA between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye to protect one another, would operate in all circumstances.

Read more: Saudi-led coalition says new attack at Riyadh airport causes fire, day after strike kills 13

Yemen&rsquo;s civil war reignited in July after a UN-brokered truce collapsed, months into a wider Middle East war. Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government have since claimed hundreds of strikes on Houthi-held territory. The Houthis say the attacks have killed civilians, including women and children. Reuters could not independently verify those claims.

The Saudis entered the Yemen war in 2015 at the head of an Arab coalition to try to force the Houthis out of &zwnj;the Yemeni capital ⁠Sanaa. The war became a bloody stalemate, with hundreds of thousands of Yemenis killed by fighting and famine.

A 2022 ceasefire reached by the Saudis and the Houthis unravelled this summer, culminating in a lightning Houthi advance that took the Red Sea chokepoint of Bab el-Mandeb from Saudi-backed government forces.

Significance of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement

The MJDA was the latest step in longstanding military and strategic cooperation between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. Signed in Makkah, the pact established a framework for collective deterrence and stipulated that an armed attack on any one of the three countries would be considered an attack on all three, while providing for wider cooperation across defence.

The agreement followed nearly a year of negotiations and came amid heightened instability across the Middle East. Turkiye and Pakistan had sought closer regional security cooperation, while Saudi Arabia had faced growing security concerns as conflicts spread across the region, threatening its territory, energy infrastructure and ambitious economic development plans.

For Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, the trilateral pact is built on their Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed in September 2025. That agreement stated that &ldquo;any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both&rdquo; and committed the two sides to strengthening defence cooperation and joint deterrence.]]>
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			<title>Sanaullah links reversal of K-P governor's rule to PTI support for counterterrorism efforts</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635209/sanaullah-links-reversal-of-k-p-governors-rule-if-pti-supports-counterterrorism-efforts</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635209/sanaullah-links-reversal-of-k-p-governors-rule-if-pti-supports-counterterrorism-efforts#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 26 11:50:23 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2635209</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[PM’s adviser urges political consensus on security, saying federal govt remains open to cooperation with opposition]]>
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				<![CDATA[Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Friday hinted that the federal government could consider foregoing interim governance in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) if the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) agreed to support law enforcement agencies in their fight against terrorism.

A day earlier, a joint session of parliament adopted two separate resolutions ratifying the presidential proclamations imposing a state of emergency and governor&rsquo;s rule in K-P for two months, amid protests from the opposition. Before that, both houses of parliament had separately approved the emergency in the province by majority vote under Clause 1 of Article 232 of the Constitution, despite objections from opposition lawmakers.

The emergency and governor&rsquo;s rule were declared on October 11 after negotiations between the government and opposition failed, culminating in a PTI long march towards Islamabad that began on October 4.

Speaking to a private news channel, Sanaullah said the government wanted all political parties to reach a consensus on counterterrorism, arguing that growing security challenges required a unified response from the federal and provincial governments.

He said the government&rsquo;s primary demand from the opposition was that it stand with Pakistan, its law enforcement agencies and armed forces. The fight against terrorism had cost the country precious lives, including those of military personnel, he added.

Sanaullah maintained that political differences should not undermine ongoing counterterrorism efforts, stressing that the strategy adopted to combat terrorism should not be questioned or made conditional on political demands.

Read More: Opp fails to thwart govt move in K-P

The remarks came amid renewed political engagement following meetings involving Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

Responding to questions about why the government was pursuing negotiations despite parliament&rsquo;s ratification of the emergency measures and governor&rsquo;s rule, Sanaullah said the administration continued to seek consensus among political parties on matters of national security.

He argued that the evolving security situation demanded cooperation rather than confrontation, adding that the federal and provincial governments needed to adopt a common strategy to counter the threat. &ldquo;Everyone should stand with Pakistan, its law enforcement agencies, and its armed forces,&rdquo; he added.

He stressed that the war on terrorism had cost precious lives among law enforcement personnel, including military servicemen, and said it was therefore essential to support them and recognise their courage. &ldquo;Together we need to win this war [against terrorism],&rdquo; he said.

India-Israel nexus

Sanaullah attributed the latest wave of terrorism to India&rsquo;s defeat in Marka-e-Haq, referring to the May 2025 Pakistan-India conflict. He said that India had subsequently launched a covert campaign against Pakistan under what he called &ldquo;Operation Sindoor 2&rdquo;.

&ldquo;They are trying to avenge their defeat in the war,&rdquo; he said, stating that India was using the Afghan Taliban as proxies in its conflict with Pakistan. &ldquo;They have housed terrorists in training camps and funded them,&rdquo; the prime minister&rsquo;s adviser said.

Sanaullah further alleged that Israel was providing technical training to terrorists in Afghanistan, enabling them to operate drones. &ldquo;In view of all these precarious circumstances, there is a strong requirement that the central and the provincial governments adopt a unified approach to eliminate the threat,&rdquo; he said.

He reiterated that the government wanted a collective response to what it described as a challenge to Pakistan&rsquo;s sovereignty, warning that counterterrorism efforts could not succeed without coordination between the federal and provincial governments.

Political differences and negotiations

Addressing contentious issues between the government and opposition, Sanaullah said previous rounds of negotiations had either produced agreements on specific matters or referred unresolved issues to a special committee comprising representatives from both sides.

He said these mechanisms were intended to facilitate dialogue and identify a way forward on outstanding matters.

The prime minister&rsquo;s adviser also criticised the PTI&rsquo;s response to legal proceedings against its leaders, arguing that allegations of political victimisation should be addressed through the judicial process.

Also read: Pakistan, others walk out as Israeli president speaks at CICA summit in Azerbaijan

He said cases could be resolved only in accordance with the law and that courts, rather than political parties, were responsible for determining the guilt or innocence of those accused.

Sanaullah contrasted the current government&rsquo;s engagement with the opposition with the tenure of former prime minister Imran Khan, claiming that the PTI founder had not contacted the then opposition leader during his four years in power.

He said Shehbaz, by comparison, regularly met the opposition leader in parliament and invited him to discuss issues of national importance. He added that Achakzai had declined repeated verbal and written invitations to meet the prime minister.

PTI arrests and law and order

Commenting on the detention of PTI leaders, including Imran Khan&rsquo;s sisters, Sanaullah alleged that those detained had been involved in planning or supporting unrest. He cited calls for attacks on the governor&rsquo;s house and rioting in Islamabad as grounds for the authorities&rsquo; actions.

He also accused the PTI&rsquo;s social media team of operating like a &ldquo;mafia&rdquo;, saying that it used artificial intelligence and manipulated images to advance the party&rsquo;s political agenda. &ldquo;Therefore, actions taken against them are a necessity bound by concerns regarding law and order,&rdquo; he said.

According to Sanaullah, those detained could be released if the PTI demonstrated that it would not engage in activities intended to provoke unrest in the future.

Read More: PTI disowns Imran&#39;s X account in IHC

The adviser maintained that the government remained open to political engagement but insisted that cooperation on national security, particularly the fight against terrorism, was essential.

Sanaullah said the federal government&rsquo;s position on K-P and other outstanding political matters should be viewed in the context of the broader security challenges facing the country.

He concluded that the threat posed by foreign-backed terrorist networks required a coordinated national response, with political parties, law enforcement agencies and the armed forces working towards the common objective of eliminating terrorism.]]>
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			<title>Public hospitals staff to be tested across Sindh</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251863/public-hospitals-staff-tested-across-sindh</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251863/public-hospitals-staff-tested-across-sindh#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:29:19 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[sameer.mandhro]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251863</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Health department to restart contact tracing for coronavirus]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The Sindh government issued directives on Saturday for all public hospitals to get its staff tested for Covid-19 as well as begin coronavirus contact tracing again.

In a letter issued by Sindh health director general Dr Irshad Ahmed Memon, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, the heads of all public-sector hospitals have been asked to get their respective facility's staff tested for the coronavirus on priority basis. Besides, they have been instructed to continue tests for the diagnosis of other suspected Covid-19 cases.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Dr Memon stressed the need for all hospital employees to get tested, claiming, however, that Sindh had the least number of infected health department employees among the provinces.

Another health department official, also emphasising the need for "immediate" screening of healthcare professionals, said the decision had come late.

"It is feared that most health workers do not [properly] follow standard operating procedures. This eventually leads to multiplying the number of infected persons, even in far flung areas," he explained.

This was confirmed by other officials, too, who pointed out that SOPs were particularly ignored at private clinics. They can then carry the virus to public hospitals, the officials added.

Saying that health department officials did all they could to monitor health workers and ensure they followed SOPs, they noted that it was near impossible to keep a watch over private facilities.

According to the health department, there are 1,500 rapid response teams in Sindh that collect samples for Covid-19 testing, besides serving at various healthcare facilities and helping Covid-19 patients in getting admissions to hospitals.

"But after several of them contracted the infection, the number of tests conducted daily was reduced," explained a senior health department official. He, however, added that other reasons also factored in reducing the number of tests. "[Following this], routine testing was disrupted," he explained.

Speaking on the matter, Pakistan Medical Association general secretary Dr Qaisar Sajjad also called for the immediate screening of healthcare professionals. "We had asked for it in March but orders for it have only been issued now."

He was also of the opinion that the government was giving rise to confusion by decreasing the number of tests.

"While the number of tests [conducted daily] is going down, the number of cases are shooting up," he observed, explaining that fewer cases being reported had led to people disregarding SOPs.

"Over 60 per cent citizens have stopped wearing masks," he claimed.

Contact tracing

With the health department also announcing to recommence Covid-19 contact tracing, a health department official told The Express Tribune that the exercise was stopped due to "some confusion."

"But we are starting it again so that [suspected] cases can be traced and screened," he confirmed.

The health dept's silence

Meanwhile, all senior department officials, including spokespersons, have reportedly been instructed not to talk to the media for reasons unknown. "Only a few are privy to this development," a health official, on condition of anonymity, disclosed to The Express Tribune. "We have been told not to share any information with the media." He added that none of the department's officials had access to the daily update on pandemic statistics given by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.

"This is the only department for which the CM releases data," the official said. "And while we work in the health department, we don't have access to it." 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020. ]]>
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			<title>MQM-London ‘hitman’ apprehended</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252248/mqm-london-hitman-apprehended</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252248/mqm-london-hitman-apprehended#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 18:29:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2252248</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Police claim he was involved in over 100 murders]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) police claimed on Saturday to have arrested a notorious target killer, allegedly belonging to Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London (MQM-L) and involved in over 100 murders, during a targeted operation in Orangi Town. The police reportedly seized arms and ammunition from his possession as well.

According to SIU SSP Irfan Bahadur, the suspect, namely Shakeel alias Haddi, was a member of MQM-L’s ‘death squad’ and had confessed to the killings of Pirabad police SI Aleem Shah and Orangi Town police constable Rana Sohail in 2011, during his initial interrogation.

Bahadur added that he was also involved in an attack on Awami National Party (ANP) leader Bashir Jan and the targeted killing of ANP’s Shah Faisal Colony in-charge, Nabi Gul, among others.

The SSP claimed Shakeel had also killed a medico-legal officer at Qatar Hospital and MQM-Haqiqi’s Asif Malang, while also setting fire to the ‘astana’ of Khalid Baba, burning three people to death.

According to the police, Shakeel admitted to involvement in over 100 murders on the basis of ethnicity, sect and politics, on the orders of the MQM-L leadership.

Cases against him and other members of the ‘death squad’, including Ajmal Pahari, Saeed alias Bharam, Danish alias Mama, Omar alias Mullah, Zeeshan alias Dada, are registered in several police stations across the city, as well as with the SIU. Further investigation is underway.]]>
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			<title>2,179 people diagnosed with coronavirus in Sindh</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252371/2179-people-diagnosed-coronavirus-sindh</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252371/2179-people-diagnosed-coronavirus-sindh#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 23:50:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2252371</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[CM Murad says province's daily testing capacity has been stretched to 12,000]]>
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				<![CDATA[Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah shared on Sunday that 2,179 people were diagnosed with coronavirus overnight, of the total 9,244 samples tested on the day.

Shah added that 435,393 samples have been tested to date in Sindh, of which 80,446 have been positive, which constituted around 18.4 per cent of the total.

The CM apprised that the testing capacity in the province has been stretched to 12,000 a day, courtesy of the laboratories established in Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Gambat and Sehwan, which have been functional for the last month.

According to Shah, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences in Hyderabad could conduct 2,000 tests, Syed Abdullah Shah Institute in Sehwan 100, Gambat Institute 300 and Ghulam Mohammad Maher Medical College in Sukkur could screen 100 samples.

Moreover, the chief minister stated that 26 more people succumbed to the contagious disease overnight, taking the death toll to 1,269 in the province. He claimed that the government has curbed the mortality rate by spreading awareness among the masses.

Shah added that 34,654 people were currently infected by the virus, of whom 33,110 were in home isolation, 88 were quarantined at isolation centres and 1,456 were being treated at different hospitals. He added that 655 patients were in critical condition and 94 of them have been put on ventilators.

Meanwhile, he said that 1,079 more patients had recovered from the contagious disease, pushing the number of recovered people to 44,523 - around 55.5 per cent of all those affected.

Furthermore, the provincial capital saw 1,406 new Covid-19 cases. He presented the district-wise breakup, saying 555 were diagnosed with the virus in East, 358 in South, 171 in Korangi, 138 in Central, 109 in West and 75 in Malir district.

Separately, Sukkur had 86 new cases, Hyderabad 54, Ghotki 40, Khairpur 38, Jamshoro 26, Mirpurkhas 22, Thatta 19, Larkana 17, Sanghar 14, Naushero Feroze 12, Matiari 12, Shikarpur 12, Shaheed Benazirabad nine, Umerkot eight, Dadu seven, Kashmore and Tando Allahyar three each, and Jacobabad one.]]>
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			<title>Youngster killed while shooting TikTok video in Karachi</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252250/youngster-killed-shooting-tiktok-video-karachi</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252250/youngster-killed-shooting-tiktok-video-karachi#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 18:39:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category><category><![CDATA[archives]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2252250</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Faraz lost control of car due to speeding, rammed into tree]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[A youngster was killed and two of his friends injured in a car accident while filming a video for popular video-sharing platform TikTok in Korangi on Saturday night.

The deceased, identified as Faraz, lost control of the car he was driving due to speeding and ran into a tree. As a result, he and his friends, Ayaz and Ahsan, were injured. They were rushed to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) for treatment, where Faraz succumbed to his injured.

According to the police, the car was completely wrecked in the collision. They added that the statements of the injured could not be recorded till the filing of this report.

The body was handed over to the family after the completing of medico-legal formalities.

This is not the first time that a life has been lost while filming a TikTok video. On June 21, a 17-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed himself while making a video. He was reportedly filming himself while holding his father’s pistol to his temple when he accidentally pulled the trigger.

Karachi teenager shooting TikTok video ‘accidentally’ kills himself

Meanwhile, in April, a 22-year-old man died after being hit by a train while shooting a video at the Jumma Goth railway station in Bhens Colony.

According to the Landhi Railway police, Kashif had been running on the railway tracks while doing a TikTok challenge when the train hit him, causing critical head injuries. His friends, who were also filming videos, took him to JPMC, where he succumbed to his wounds.]]>
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			<title>Illegal plasma sale thrives in Lahore</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251888/illegal-plasma-sale-thrives-lahore</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251888/illegal-plasma-sale-thrives-lahore#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:56:28 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Imran Adnan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251888</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[First Covid-19 patient recovered through trial treatment last month]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Following a surge in confirmed coronavirus cases and a significant increase in the number of patients recovering, a black market of blood plasma has emerged across the country, particularly in the provincial capital.

People are selling blood plasma of the patients who have recovered from coronavirus for tens of thousands of rupees, The Express Tribune learnt on Saturday.

The blood plasma or convalescent plasma is currently being trialled as a possible treatment for coronavirus disease in different countries, including Pakistan, as it contains antibodies developed by the immune system of people who have won the battle against the virus.

Though a large number of patients overcoming the disease are willing to donate plasma free of charge, some black sheep are using popular social media platforms to contact critically ill coronavirus patients seeking donation.

A patient who wanted to sell his blood plasma after his recent recovery said, “I don’t want to earn money but to recover my expenses incurred on the treatment since thousands of rupees were spent on medicines, consultation and food. I believe there is no harm in recovering the cost while people are selling their blood plasma for tens of thousands of rupees in the city.”



Other people involved in the unethical trade also have their own reasons. Thousands of posts are available on social media indicating that the illegal activity is happening openly without the fear of law enforcing agencies or accountability.

On June 13, a Twitter user posted her thoughts on the issue: “People are making money by selling their plasma to patients in Pakistan.

Humanity is dead.” Meanwhile, many people were of the view that there was nothing wrong with it. They commented that people also sell kidneys and blood.

Besides blood plasma, people have posted requirement for medicines such as Remdesivir, Besimivir and other drugs considered beneficial in coronavirus treatment. To save the lives of their loved ones, some people have expressed their willingness to pay any amount for these scarcely available drugs. In May, the National Institute of Blood Diseases (NIBD) confirmed that the first coronavirus patient who had been treated with plasma therapy had recovered.

The sale of oxygen cylinders is also on the rise in the online black market. A 6-litre cylinder along with regulator and stand is being offered for Rs23,000, while an 8-litre variant is being sold for Rs28,000 and 12-litre equipment is available for Rs35,000.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, an oxygen cylinder dealer, Rashid Malik, highlighted that the prices has increased three-fold owing to very high demand. “Mostly these cylinders are being imported from China, Turkey and Russia. In normal days, we were selling a 12-litre cylinder for Rs12,000 to Rs15,000 and 6-litre for Rs6,000 to Rs7,000,” he disclosed.

The Ministry of National Health Services has already announced action against illegal trading of blood plasma and black marketing of life-saving drugs used for coronavirus patients in the country. Health experts are warning citizens not to pay donors for blood plasma since it is still an experimental therapy.

As per the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act 2012, commercial dealing and trade of human organs and tissues is illegal in the country.

Section 11 of the law highlights that whoever makes or receives any payment for the supply of, or for an offer to supply, any human organ; seeks to find a person willing to supply for payment of any human organ; or offers to supply any human organ for payment shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years and with fine of up to Rs1 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Woman commits suicide with two daughters</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251906/woman-commits-suicide-two-daughters</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251906/woman-commits-suicide-two-daughters#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:41:58 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Tariq Saeed Awan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251906</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Victim’s husband wanted to marry off girls against their wish]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A mother of seven children ended her life by consuming poisonous pills along with her two daughters over a domestic dispute in Mohalla Selwan, Kundian on Saturday.

A sense of shock and mourning spread in the neighbourhood after the incident.

As per details obtained by The Express Tribune, Muhammad Tahir Qureshi, son of Allah Din, a resident of Mohalla Selwan, and his wife had a dispute over marriage proposals for their daughters. The husband allegedly pressured his daughters to accept the marriage proposals as per his wishes, while the wife and daughters did not agree to the proposals.

As a result of the dispute, Tahir’s wife and daughters, 12-year-old Anza and 11-year-old Asma, swallowed a poisonous substance.

The mother and two daughters were shifted to a rural health centre, where doctor referred them to the Mianwali DHQ Hospital after immediate medical aid. However, the three victims could not survive.

As soon as the incident was reported, Kundian police and Rescue 1122 teams reached the spot. After postmortem was conducted and police completed the legal procedure, the bodies were handed over to the heirs.

Cases where multiple members of the same family committed suicide or were killed by their own family have been also been reported earlier in the province.

On Monday, a woman reportedly poisoned herself and four other members of her family due to financial problems in Okara.

A poor labourer of Okara, Nazar Mohammad, who failed to repay a loan, was struggling to make ends meet due to which his family often quarreled over financial issues.

Nazar’s son, 20-year-old Waqas Ahmed, married 19-year-old Naheed two months ago. The couple lived in Ghouspura neighbourhood of Basirpur Town, Okara with Nazar, his 45-year-old wife, and sons, 18-year-old Ashfaq Ahmed and 16-year-old Sattar Ahmed.

The family reportedly had a debt of Rs150,000. The whole family was worried about paying back the debt and there were often altercations in the house.

Naheed’s in-laws often pressured her to bring money from her father to settle the debt.

Reportedly, Naheed was fed up with the daily quarrels and allegedly fed her in-laws food containing poison, due to which her husband Waqas and brother-in-law Ashfaq died, while her other brother-in-law, 16-year-old Sattar Ahmed, and mother-in-law were severely affected.

In March last year, a man shot and killed his wife and three children, over a domestic dispute, before committing suicide in Rai Chand area of Chiniot.

In April 2019, a man committed suicide after killing his father and sisters over a family dispute regarding his ex-wife, whom he wished to remarry, in Shafiqabad, Lahore.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Letter to Punjab IGP seeks ban on PUBG video game</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251900/letter-punjab-igp-seeks-ban-pubg-video-game</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251900/letter-punjab-igp-seeks-ban-pubg-video-game#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:45:21 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category><category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251900</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Official says excessive violence in game triggers aggressive behaviour among youth]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A letter written to the Punjab inspector general of police (IGP) on Saturday sought a ban on online game Player Unknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG).

The letter was penned by SSP Liaqat Ali Malik on the instructions of CCPO Zulfiqar Hameed. It mentioned that the online video game has devastating impacts on the mental health of the youth and two incidents of suicide have been reported in the city.

It stated that excessive violence triggers aggressive behaviour among the youth and they become addicted to the game. The CCPO said the game should be banned and an awareness campaign should be launched.

A matric student had committed suicide in Gulshan-e-Abbass Phase-II a few days ago. The boy was found hanging in his room. The police also spotted a smartphone beside the body with the PUBG game app running on it.

His parents also confirmed to the police that they had stopped the boy for playing the game. In another incident, a 20-year-old student of second year at the FC College University Lahore also reportedly committed suicide after being scolded by his parents for playing the PUBG. The victim identified as Jonty Joseph was living in North Cantonment. On the day of the incident, his father reportedly reprimanded him for playing the PUBG for a long period.

He took the punishment so seriously that he locked himself inside a room. The next day when he did not open the door, the family broke it and found him hanging.

The victim also worked part-time to assist the family financially and after work would remain busy in playing the game late at night.

On May 18, a man approached the Lahore High Court to ban the video game. “The game has a negative impact on children. They are becoming more ruthless and violent,” maintained the petitioner.

The PUBG, which has been developed by a South Korean company, is a 2017 survival game in which players are dropped onto an island to battle it out against others. The multiplayer game allows players from all over the world to compete against each other or in teams.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>NGO offers transgender people foreign scholarships</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251895/ngo-offers-transgender-people-foreign-scholarships</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251895/ngo-offers-transgender-people-foreign-scholarships#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:51:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Asif Mehmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251895</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Programme will allow selected persons to attend month-long training in host country]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[&nbsp;

While educational opportunities have been few and far between for gender minorities in Pakistan, a local NGO has stepped in to create an international platform for the development of the country’s transgender persons. The Gender Guardian (TGG), a non-governmental organisation working to train and educate transgender persons in Pakistan, has partnered with various foreign NGOs to allow transgender citizens the opportunity to participate in a month-long training program in four different countries.

Transwoman Sania Abbasi, who is a makeup artist and has been associated with TGG as a teacher for the past several months, is among the many aspirants of the training scholarship. If selected for the coveted programme, Ms Abbasi says it will bring her immense pride to be one of Pakistan’s first transgender persons sent abroad for training in social work and welfare. “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to be able to represent our country on an international platform and I have been working tirelessly towards achieving my goals. I can’t wait to work alongside international NGOs. I want to learn from them and also share my personal experiences with the world.”

According to The Gender Guardian (TGG) Head Asif Shehzad, his organisation is committed to providing equal opportunities to transgender people through the provision of free vocational training and formal education. “We have taught and trained dozens of transgender people in various skills such as driving, cooking, makeup, sewing and etc over the last couple of years. However, through this scholarship the selected participants will be able to use share their skills and talent with the world and for the first time, have access to international cultural exchange and training,” said Shehzad. Speaking further about the scholarship programme, Shehzad also informed that The Gender Guardian has been working towards compiling a digital database of transgender persons registered with TGG as well as other people who donate to the organisation. “So far, we have partnered with NGOs working in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. Using our database, we will select candidates every six months to be sent to these four countries for a month-long training, while people from the same four countries will also have the option to come and train in Pakistan. Our selected candidates will be working alongside their host country’s NGOs and represent Pakistan on an international level,” he explained.

Sania Abbasi, believes this scholarship will allow the people of the world to see the skills and talent of Pakistan’s transgender person, who often tend to be stereotyped as people limited to sex work. “As a gender minority, we have little no resources for pursuing higher education or going abroad, because of which we have very limited opportunities for work. However, this scholarship opportunity for transgender people to showcase their abilities and break the stereotypes associated with them,” she asserted.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>‘Pakistan’s progress linked to Balochistan peace’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251914/pakistans-progress-linked-balochistan-peace</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251914/pakistans-progress-linked-balochistan-peace#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:35:52 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251914</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[NA speaker chairs parliamentary committee meeting to discuss issues facing province]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser on Saturday asked Balochistan parliamentarians and public representatives to suggest solutions to the socio-economic problems being faced by the province and its people.

Chairing the maiden meeting of the special parliamentary committee on Balochistan in the Parliament House, Qaiser said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) emanated from Gilgit-Baltistan and culminated in Balochistan, which increased the significance of the province.

“Balochistan and its issues are always a priority of the incumbent government,” he said. “Parliament and public representatives are the best option to put forth solutions to the socio-economic issues faced by Balochistan and its people,” he said.

“Pakistan’s progress is linked to peace and progress in Balochistan,” Qaiser said, stressing the need for the committee to look into the matters related to ensuring transfer of the real benefits of CPEC to the local people.

Committees in the parliamentary system across the world, Qaiser said, played a recommendatory role, therefore, this committee would make all-out efforts to recommend the best possible solutions to the issues faced by Balochistan.

The speaker mentioned that the issuance of an executive order, regarding immediate implementation of 6% employment quota in all federal departments, underscored the seriousness of Prime Minister Imran Khan towards addressing the issues of Balochistan.

On the occasion, the speaker formed a four-member sub-committee, headed by Dr Fehmida Mirza, to develop comprehensive terms of reference (ToRs) encompassing all the issues related to Balochistan. It was also decided that a representative from the Balochistan National Party and Defence Minister Prevaiz Khattak would be invited to assist the sub-committee in developing the ToRs.

Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri appreciated the initiative of the speaker to constitute the special committee.

He noted that the government was seriously looking into the resolution of the issues confronting peace and development in the province.

Mirza, the inter-provincial coordination minster, told the committee that Balochistan’s issues had always been the top priority of the parliamentarians.

She pointed out that comprehensive ToRs were essential to make the committee more effective. Khattak said that the government had taken various steps to mitigate the grievances of the people of Balochistan.

Representing Balochistan National Party (BNP) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal, National Assembly lawmaker Agha Hassan Baloch contended that the issues of Balochistan were getting intense since 2006 and needed to be redressed forthwith.

He called for examining the recommendations, proposed after a meeting between previous parliamentary committee, headed by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, and late Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Balochistan collects Rs2.5b from mineral sector</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251919/balochistan-collects-rs2-5b-mineral-sector</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251919/balochistan-collects-rs2-5b-mineral-sector#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:38:28 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[APP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251919</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Computerised weighing scales have been installed]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Balochistan government has collected Rs2.5 billion from the minerals sector during the current financial year, despite coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown that was imposed to curb virus spread.

The government has collected the huge amount from mining sector and deposited in the provincial treasury, an official of the Balochistan government said. Computerised weighing scales have been installed besides increasing mining check posts in the province, he added.  

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>First phase of HingIaj road construction completed</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251913/first-phase-hingiaj-road-construction-completed</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251913/first-phase-hingiaj-road-construction-completed#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:35:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[mohammad.zafar]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251913</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Project was approved at a cost of Rs120 million]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The first construction phase of Hinglaj Mandir Link Road project has been successfully completed with the special funds from Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal.

The Hindu community of Lasbela has expressed gratitude to the government of Balochistan, according to official sources, as 90% of technical work of the temple stands completed.

The project was approved at a cost of Rs120 million to construct a 13km road to the temple which is adjacent to the Gwadar Coastal Highway.

The first phase of the 4.7 km Link Road project has been completed this week while phase two of the project will be completed in the next financial year.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Bilawal, Mengal agree on joint strategy for budget</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251810/bilawal-mengal-agree-joint-strategy-budget</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251810/bilawal-mengal-agree-joint-strategy-budget#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 00:50:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Khalid Mehmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category><category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251810</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Both leaders express concern over spread of coronavirus in country]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto telephoned Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) chief Akhtar Mengal on Saturday and discussed the current political situation in the country.

According to details, both the leaders agreed on a joint strategy for the next year’s fiscal budget.

They also exchanged views on the 18th Constitutional Amendment and government’s measures on the National Finance Commission (NFC) award.

“By criticising the 18th Constitutional Amendment, Imran Khan is attacking the constitution,” Bilawal said.

They expressed concern over the growing number of Covid-19 patients in the country and deliberated the holding of all parties’ conference next week.

Bilawal, Shehbaz reject federal budget

“PTI-IMF budget is anti-people. We cannot accept it,” the PPP chairman said.

“Due to the incompetence of the government, coronavirus has spread everywhere,” he added.

Both the leaders also rejected the increase in the petroleum price and noted that this was the time to provide maximum relief to the people.

A few days back, Mengal announced his party's withdrawal from its alliance with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led federal government over its failure to implement accords with the party.

Speaking during a session of the National Assembly, he said: "I am officially announcing that our party is ending its alliance with the PTI. We will stay in Parliament and will keep talking about issues."

Mengal added that the PTI had signed two agreements with the party at the time of government formation after the 2018 elections and later during the presidential elections, but not a single point of the accord was implemented.]]>
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			<title>K-P wants revival of tourism hit hard by Covid</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251918/k-p-wants-revival-tourism-hit-hard-covid</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251918/k-p-wants-revival-tourism-hit-hard-covid#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 10:37:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[K-P]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251918</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[CM Mahmood Khan orders early opening of provincial tourism authority]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[In an effort to boost the tourism sector, which has been hit hard by the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the provincial chief executive has directed for expediting efforts for opening the newly established provincial tourism authority.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan issued these orders while presiding over the 22nd board meeting of the Board of Directors of the Tourism Corporation of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (TCK-P).

CM Mahmood directed to finalise formalities for opening the newly established K-P Cultural Tourism Authority immediately.

The chief minister also ordered to take steps for liquidation of TCK-P and handing over its assets and liabilities to the culture and tourism authority. The TCK-P employees would be absorbed in the authority, he added.

The chief minister termed tourism as a major economic sector and said its promotion is a top priority of his government.

The meeting was briefed on the progress so far made on the liquidation of the TCK-P after the establishment of the Culture and Tourism Authority as provided in the K-P Culture and Tourism Act, 2019.

The meeting decided to constitute a committee headed by K-P Additional Chief Secretary Shakil Qadir to streamline and expedite all the legal, administrative and financial matters with regard to the liquidation of the TCK-P in a prescribed manner.

The committee would draft and present its recommendations to the competent forum within a week. Other members of the committee would finance secretary, law secretary, tourism secretary and establishment secretary.

K-P Chief Secretary Dr Kazim Niaz, Additional Chief Secretary Shakil Qadir, Finance Secretary Atif Rehman, Tourism Secretary Khushal Khan and TCK-P Managing Director Junaid Khan, private sector members of the board and other relevant officials attended the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Poor internet access for students echoes in K-P assembly</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251303/poor-internet-access-students-echoes-assembly</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251303/poor-internet-access-students-echoes-assembly#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jun 20 09:14:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[shahid.hamid]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[K-P]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251303</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Debate on Rs55.42b supplementary budget completed]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Lawmakers on Friday took up the issue of poor internet connection for students in the remote areas of the province, noting that the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic means that online classes are the only means for obtaining education for students now.

This was discussed as the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly resumed on Friday to debate the provincial budget for the fiscal year 2020-21.

MPAs raised questions on online classes in the province. They urged the provincial government to ensure students have access to 3G and 4G networks, especially in the merged districts, so that they can access classes.

Moreover, they lamented that a girls college built in the Mohmand tribal district has yet to start functioning even though its structure was completed years ago.

During the discussion on the supplementary budget for the fiscal year 2019-20 worth Rs55.42 billion, the issue of a laptop scheme was raised.

Opposition lawmakers including Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Nighat Orakzai, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) Maulana Lutfur Rehman, Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) Inyatullah Khan, Mir Kalam Wazir, Shafiq Afridi, Baseerat Bibi, Khushdil Khan, Shagufta Malik and others said that a handsome amount had been allocated for the information technology sector in the supplementary budget to provide laptops to teachers.

They noted that if teachers can be provided laptops, then what about the students and called for greater transparency in the programme.

The opposition benches also raised concerns over the plight of the inmates in prisons across the province during the pandemic. They slammed the government for losing control of the bureaucracy.

Police reforms

On the directions of Deputy Speaker Mahmood Khan for a senior police officer attend the assembly proceedings, an SP level officer arrived at the assembly on Friday.

However, the deputy speaker did not allow him to enter the session as he expressed his anger over the absence of senior officers.

He then directed a DIG level officer to attend the session.

Later, Peshawar CCPO Ali Gandapur visited the assembly lobby and marked his presence.

Lawmakers from across the aisle pointed to the need for police reforms. They also asked the CCPO to explain reports of extrajudicial killings and the harassment of citizens at checkpoints set up across the province.

Members of the opposition expressed their reservations over the dormant status of the public safety commission. With no check and balance on the department, they claimed that the police was doing what it wants.

The secretary of the home department was also accused of deliberately delaying the process of activating the commission. Opposition lawmakers also pointed to the incident in the Zangi area where a motorcyclist was killed when he failed to stop at a checkpoint.

Discriminatory allocations

Shafiq Afridi from the Khyber Tribal District accused the government of dividing development funds based on the personal likes and dislikes of the finance and chief ministers. Moreover, he said that lawmaker of the merged districts has been completely ignored. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>K-P up in arms against custodial torture</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251292/k-p-arms-custodial-torture</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251292/k-p-arms-custodial-torture#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jun 20 09:19:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondents]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[K-P]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251292</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Govt asks PHC to probe yet another instance of police high-handedness]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Scores were left injured on Friday as police and protesters clashed in the Tehkal area of the provincial capital as the latter demonstrated against the excesses of the former.

The clashes came even as the government wrote to the provincial judiciary, asking it to probe reports of police detaining an Afghan national, stripping and parading him naked and then torturing him for abusing officers in a video.

Several protests and rallies were held across the province on Friday to protest the torture of Rafiullah alias Amir of Tehkal.

The largest protests were staged in the Tehkal area, outside the Peshawar Press Club and in front of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly building. Protesters filled the road from Saddar to the press club, blocking it for all sorts of traffic. Former Awami National Party (ANP) provincial assembly member Alamgir Khan Khalil and members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Youth Wing also participated in the protest.

They held aloft banners condemning the police brutality and of filming a detainee in a compromised position and then leaking the videos. Chanting anti-police slogans, they demanded a judicial inquiry into the case and kept the road closed for nearly two hours.

As the protesters neared the provincial assembly, they were charged by police in riot gear. At this, the protesters started pelting police officers with stones.

To disperse the crowd, the police resorted to firing tear gas canisters.

The clashes left scores of protesters and police officers injured.

Meanwhile, protests against police excesses were also held in Mardan, Swabi, Bajaur, Charsadda, Nowshera, Malakand, Lower and Upper Dir, Swat and other southern districts. Lawyers, social workers, students and local political leaders participated in those protests.

Judicial inquiry

In a media briefing at the Information Cell in the Civil Secretariat on Friday, Adviser to the K-P Chief Minister on Information Ajmal Wazir said that the provincial government has written to the Peshawar High Court’s registrar to nominate a judge who will lead a judicial commission to probe the Tehkal incident under the K-P Tribunal of Inquiry Ordinance.

Wazir said that soon after the video went viral on social media, the provincial government had taken immediate action by suspending and booking the four police personnel involved, including an SHO. Moreover, the SSP Operation was removed from his post.

On the judicial commission, he confirmed that the PHC had been requested to form the probe body. He added that the body will be tasked with identifying those responsible for the incident and that later they will be tried as per the law.

Noting that the commission has been directed to complete its inquiry within 15 days, Wazir said that the government will make the inquiry public.

The adviser, however, urged the public not to malign the entire police department due to the actions of a few

“The misconduct and wrongdoings of a few personnel should not be blamed on the entire police department,” he said, reiterating the immense sacrifices rendered by the provincial police force in the war against terror apart from serving on the frontlines against the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Another case of police excesses surfaces</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251290/another-case-police-excesses-surfaces</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251290/another-case-police-excesses-surfaces#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jun 20 09:19:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Yawar Hayat]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[K-P]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[The report further showed that the additional SHO had been previously found guilty of framing a man in a fake case]]>
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				<![CDATA[After Peshawar, a case of police excesses has emerged from Haripur where a senior police officer allegedly beat up a clerk at a filling station for refusing service to his son.

A report submitted to the district police officer's (DPO0 office stated that additional SHO SI Muhammad Nawaz's son had gone to a filling station in the Batrassi area of Haripur to get fuel for his motorbike. Because he was not wearing a face mask nor a helmet, the clerk on duty refused to provide him with service as per a campaign being run by the district police.

At this, additional SHO Nawaz and his driver arrived at the fuel station where they beat up the workers. Nawaz’s driver also allegedly snatched cash from the cashier's pocket and then fled.

The owner of the filling station and workers subsequently approached the DPO and urged him to intervene. The DPO took notice of the incident and suspended Nawaz and launched an inquiry.

The report further showed that the additional SHO had been previously found guilty of framing a man in a fake case and allegedly took a bribe to set the case aside.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2020.]]>
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			<title>Virus cases in Indian Occupied Kashmir top 7,000</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252336/virus-cases-indian-occupied-kashmir-top-7000</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252336/virus-cases-indian-occupied-kashmir-top-7000#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 23:11:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jammu &amp; Kashmir]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[2,700 infections, including 41 virus-linked deaths, confirmed in last 2 weeks]]>
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				<![CDATA[Coronavirus cases in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&amp;K) region crossed the 7,000-mark including 94 deaths, officials said on Sunday.

As many as 127 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the national tally to 7,093, according to the latest data by the government.

Since June 13, the data revealed, about 2,700 cases have been registered while 41 people, including a 15-day-old baby, have died.

The Doctors Association of Kashmir has warned of community transmission, saying that more than 90% of the region's population is susceptible to the infection.

AJK president lauds Joe Biden for urging India to restore people’s rights in IOJ&amp;K

Dr Suhail Naik, who heads the association, told Anadolu Agency the recent numbers indicate that the virus has arrived in the community, and is going to spread amid an ease in restrictions.

“We cannot bear the excess load of cases in our underdeveloped healthcare systems... the only remedy available is social distancing, hygiene and prevention,” he said.

While educational institutions remain closed, and public transport is still suspended in the region, some businesses have reopened.

As the pandemic crisis is looming, Indian forces continued their human rights violation in the valley, killing over 130 freedom fighters in over 40 gunfights in 2020 so far.]]>
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			<title>AJK president lauds Joe Biden for urging India to restore people’s rights in IOJ&amp;K</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252239/ajk-president-lauds-joe-biden-urging-india-restore-peoples-rights-iojk</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252239/ajk-president-lauds-joe-biden-urging-india-restore-peoples-rights-iojk#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 22:27:03 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jammu &amp; Kashmir]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2252239</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[US former vice president has said restrictions on dissent, such as preventing peaceful protests, weaken democracy.]]>
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				<![CDATA[While welcoming US Democratic presidential nominee and former vice president Joe Biden’s statements over the restoration of rights of Kashmiris, Azad Jammu and Kashmir President Sardar Masood Khan has said that Biden’s remarks are a proof that the world community has refused to buy the Indian narrative on Occupied Kashmir.

Biden has asked New Delhi to take all necessary steps to restore rights of all the people of Kashmir and asserted that restrictions on dissent, such as preventing peaceful protests or shutting or slowing down internet, weakens democracy.

The US ex-vice president also expressed disappointment over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the enforcement of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in different states of India.

“We welcome the US Democratic Party leader’s remarks and urge Indian-Americans and Muslim-Americans to applaud Joe Biden’s policy statement together because nobody wants India to be ruled by theocratic fascists. Kashmiris’ liberties and fundamental rights, especially their right to self-determination, should be restored. It’s a just demand,” President Masood said in Muzaffarabad on Sunday.

Earlier addressing a function held in connection with the disbursement of cash grant among the affectees of Indian shelling living along the Line of Control (LoC), the AJK president said that relief being provided by the federal government to 610,000 members of 80,000 families is the recognition of their sacrifices as well as acknowledgement of the responsibilities being shouldered by the state government.

"Azad Kashmir is not only a strong defence line of Pakistan, but the people living close to the LoC and facing India's direct aggression are the defenders of the motherland," he added.

While commenting on Prime Minister Imran Khan's announcement to include more than 100,000 people affected by the Indian firing at the LoC in the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme and to issue health cards to 1.2 million people of Azad Kashmir, he said that the people of occupied and the liberated territory want to become part of Pakistan not because of geographical location but on the basis of their faith and ideology.

Joe Biden seeks restoration of peoples’ rights in Occupied Kashmir

The AJK president said that India's ruling party BJP and the RSS have planned to eliminate the Kashmiri people, occupy their lands, reduce the number of Muslims in the assembly of Occupied Kashmir, and to turn the whole state into a colony of India, but the people of both the liberated and occupied parts of Kashmir would offer stiff resistance.

He went on to say that it is high time that the government and the people of Pakistan as well as the valiant people of Azad Kashmir adopt an aggressive policy to counter India because "India is constantly threatening to attack Pakistan, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan".

"Instead of saying that we will defend Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, we should also talk about the liberation of Khalistan, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Mizoram, and tell the world that India is no longer a secular state but it has emerged as a fascist state," he added.

President Masood also said that India's anti-Muslim moves have awakened the Muslims across the world, and a wave for the renaissance of Islam has risen in the whole Muslim world. "It is now clear that whether it is Kashmir or Palestine, the Muslims are prepared to safeguard their interest."

Referring to Azad Kashmir, he said that the liberated territory can emerge as an economic engine for Pakistan. At present, he maintained, that 2,000 megawatts of electricity is being generated in Azad Kashmir while the territory has a potential of producing another 8,000 megawatts of electricity "though our own demand is between 300 and 400 megawatts, and the surplus electricity is injected into the national grid".

On completion of Kohala, Gulpur, Azad Pattan, Dudhnial and many other projects in the coming decade, Azad Kashmir will become the biggest electricity generating region of Pakistan.

President Masood said that Azad Kashmir is not only strategically important for Pakistan's defence but it can also play an important role in the economic uplift of the country. "That is why, we say that Pakistan is incomplete without Kashmir and Kashmir has no identity without Pakistan."]]>
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			<title>Hinduism being masqueraded as secularism in India, says AJK president</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251761/hinduism-masqueraded-secularism-india-says-ajk-president</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2251761/hinduism-masqueraded-secularism-india-says-ajk-president#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 20 00:33:43 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jammu &amp; Kashmir]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2251761</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Masood says 13,000 Kashmiri boys have been abducted and kept in prison houses where they're being subjected to torture]]>
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				<![CDATA[Sardar Masood Khan, the president Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), has said that after grudgingly accepting the independence of Pakistan, India adopted a secular doctrine, an insincere attempt to hide prevalent Hindu nationalism under the guise of secularism.

He made these remarks while addressing two separate web-conferences organised by the Institute of Policy Studies on the topic of “India: Past, Present &amp; Future: Perceptions of the Muslim World”; and by the Pakistan High Commission UK on the topic “Seeking Justice for Kashmiri Victims of Sexual Violence and Physical Torture, and Widows”.

Speaking at the IPS session – which was attended by leading international experts from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Nigeria – the president said Hindu fascists romanticise an imaginary state of "Akhand Baharat" that they claim to have existed before the arrival of Muslim rulers in the sub-continent. This notion, he said, is not only unsubstantiated by history, it is also counterintuitive.

Referring to the faux secularism adopted by India, the AJK president said that over the decades, this glue of secularism had has come off and the real face of India’s political masters has been exposed. "Not long after independence, on 27 October 1947, India began working on its imperialistic agenda, and invaded the Jammu and Kashmir State. Driven by its Hindu-extremist policy, India has carried on with this agenda over the years," he said.

Masood Khan said that lawmakers and the leadership of BJP, the RSS and their affiliates have publicly declared that they would do away with Muslims from within India. This, he said, has caught the attention of Hindu zealots from across India which has consequently impacted the larger political landscape of the neighbouring country.

This BJP-RSS nexus has waged three wars in the region; one against its minorities inside its own borders, the second one against Kashmiris in the occupied territory of Kashmir and the third one against all its neighbouring countries. "Considering Pakistan as enemy number one, they have threatened to wipe off Pakistan from the face of the earth by the use of nuclear weapons," he informed.

The AJK president said that India’s ambition of becoming a colonial and imperial power in the region has led it to using the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh for sabotaging the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It has also formed a four-member alliance QUAD – comprising of India, USA, Japan and Australia – to oppose the BRI and, especially, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

“India is the biggest barrier for progress in the region. SAARC has been struggling for decades and that too because India has been standing in the way of economic integration as it wants to establish its hegemony in South Asia,” said the president.

'Existing tensions surfacing in new China-India row'

Speaking about the situation in IOJ&amp;K, he said that India is practicing the policy of lebensraum by reoccupying the State of Jammu and Kashmir, bifurcating it and now bringing it under the direct rule of Delhi. He compared the new domicile rules introduced in the occupied valley, to the policy followed by Nazi Germany against the Jews, based initially on economic strangulation, followed by demonisation and marginalisation and finally physical extermination.

The president apprised that in IOJ&amp;K political leaders have been incarcerated, the youth are being killed and tortured in jails all over Occupied Kashmir and northern India. He added that 13,000 Kashmiri boys have been abducted and kept in prison houses where they are being subjected to torture and brainwashing. Bipin Rawat, India’s Chief of Defence Staff, has said that these boys (some as young as 10 years old) are more dangerous than a pellet-firing shotgun because they raise the slogan of Azadi (freedom) and self-determination, he said.

The AJK president said that members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) should start a boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against India, while the corporate sector of these countries should be discouraged to invest in India as they are committing human rights violations against Kashmiris and Muslims of India.

"Start by banning the import of non-halal meat into OIC countries and the formation of a Kashmir Humanitarian Fund with the help of the Islamic Development Bank and Islamic Solidarity Fund.”

He also suggested an international civil society movement be mobilised to delegitimise Hindutva and campaign to declare RSS a terrorist organisation. “The biggest and the most trained terrorist organisation in the world is the RSS. They have openly declared to target Muslims not only in South Asia but all over the world”, he added.

Appreciating the supportive role of the OIC, Masood Khan appealed to the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council to raise their voice against Kashmir and call out the egregious human rights violations taking place in IOJ&amp;K.

Speaking at the web-conference hosted by Pakistan High Commission, the president appealed to powerful nations to make moral and legal choices for bringing India to justice and helping dismantle this machine of torture in IOJ&amp;K. “Silence is a crime when such torture is openly taking place in any part of the world”, he said.

He added that 25,000 Hindus from all over India have been given domiciles of IOJ&amp;K; and in the same manner, in which Muslim Indians have become second class citizens, Kashmiris have to run from pillar to post just to prove that they are state subjects. “If we don’t stop this now, IOJ&amp;K won’t be a recognisable entity like it is today. Two million Hindus will be brought in over the coming years” he said.

The AJK president said that India’s non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council will lead to three setbacks in the Council. Firstly, it will try to delete the agenda from the UNSC calendar; secondly, they would make efforts to stop us from holding informal meetings on Kashmir; and thirdly, they will imperil funding of the mandate of the UNMOGIP. “As a permanent member of the UNSC, the United Kingdom can stop this and create a balance in the UNSC,” said the president while speaking to his audience.

He urged the British citizenry and its civil society to lead the campaign of letter writing and awareness-raising on Kashmir in the international realm.

He also thanked MP Steve Baker for his active and vocal role in raising his voice for the Kashmir people by authoring a letter. He urged him to use his clout with 10 Downing Street and the FCO to mobilise the UK towards Kashmir advocacy in both the British Parliament and the UNSC.

The web-conference hosted by the Pakistan High Commission London was attended by Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK Nafees Zakaria, MP Afzal Khan, MP Naz Shah, MP Steve Baker, MP Tony Lloyd, MP, Imran Hussain, MP Khalid Mahmood, Lord Qurban Hussain, Councillor Aasim Rashid, Mr Muzammil  Ayub Thakur, Chairman JKSDMI Raja Najabat Hussain, President Tahreek-e-Kashmir UK Fahim Kiyani, Dr Nazir GIllani, Syed Ali Raza, Shaista Safi and other leading members of the civil society.]]>
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			<title>World leaders urged to help end Indian atrocities against Kashmiris</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2250999/world-leaders-urged-help-end-indian-atrocities-kashmiris</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2250999/world-leaders-urged-help-end-indian-atrocities-kashmiris#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 20 21:06:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[​ Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jammu &amp; Kashmir]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2250999</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[On International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, AJK president condemns BJP-RSS regime]]>
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				<![CDATA[Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan has urged the international community and United Nations to help end the most "cruel, inhumane and degrading" treatment of the people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&amp;K) by occupation forces,

“We fully agree with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’s statement that torturers must never be allowed to get away with their crimes, and systems that enable torture should be dismantled or transformed,” he said in a video message released on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture observed across the globe on Friday.

The AJK president said that torture is a crime against humanity and it is prohibited by international law and all religions. "Yet, this crime is committed everyday by the Indian forces and authorities in the occupied territory, most brutally and systematically."

He appealed to the United Nations not to generalise and blur the focus on torture where it is pervasive. In Occupied Kashmir, he said, torture is most rampant and most egregious.

“Torture has been committed by the BJP-RSS regime by reoccupying and colonising Jammu and Kahsmir against the will of its 14 million people, dividing their state into two parts, and enforcing decrees whereby the entire territory is now ruled by a foreign capital, Delhi."

While lambasting the Modi-led government, President Masood said: “As we mark this day today, Kashmiri young men are hunted down and killed in cold blood in fake encounters, demonstrators are blinded and sexual molestation is used as a weapon of war.”

Kashmiris, he went on to say, are being deprived of their homeland by bringing Hindus from all over India and settling them in the occupied territory through new domicile rules.

“Stripped of their permanent residence rights, Kashmiris are being robbed of their jobs, livelihoods, businesses and land. Systematically, the demography of the disputed valley is being altered permanently."

PM urges int'l community to hold India accountable for atrocities in IOJ&amp;K

The AJK president said what India is doing in occupied region is a war crime according to the Fourth Geneva Convention, the ICC Statute and international humanitarian law.

Referring to arbitrary arrest of political leaders and political activists, he said thousands of political detainees  – illegally incarcerated – are being subjected to the vicious torture leading in many instances to death and disability.

President Masood demanded that political prisoners in the Tihar jail in India - Yasin Malik, Asiya Indrabi, Shabbir Shah - should be released forthwith and Syed Ali Geelani and other Hurriyet leaders - hundreds of them holed up in cramped prisons - should be set free.

Some 13,000 boys and children, as young as 10, are caged in concentration camps where they are being tortured and brainwashed, he said while calling for the international community led by the United Nations to play ts role for their release.

He also made a demand that India should be asked to repeal all draconian laws that empower occupation forces to commit crimes with impunity.

“Kashmiris are citizens of planet Earth. Listen to their screams of SOS. Save their bodies; save their souls. Silence too is a crime while such massive torture is taking place right before our eyes.”]]>
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			<title>Khawaja Asif claps back at critics over Marilyn Monroe AI riddle</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635254/khawaja-asif-claps-back-at-critics-over-marilyn-monroe-ai-riddle</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635254/khawaja-asif-claps-back-at-critics-over-marilyn-monroe-ai-riddle#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 26 18:13:46 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2635254</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Defence minister says he is entitled to maintain his personality despite holding public office]]>
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				<![CDATA[Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday brushed aside online criticism after being mocked for responding to an AI-generated image of Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe, saying he personally operated&nbsp;his social media account and saw&nbsp;nothing unusual about his response.

Speaking on&nbsp;private television channel&nbsp;programme Naya Pakistan, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz&nbsp;stalwart was asked about the post and whether he managed his account on X himself.

&ldquo;200% I operate it myself,&rdquo; Asif said, adding that he led an ordinary life despite holding a prominent government position.

&ldquo;I have a personal life and a normal life. I am a normal human being; there is nothing special about me,&rdquo; he said, stressing he had no airs about him.

Read: Khawaja Asif trolled over Marilyn Monroe AI puzzle on X

The controversy began on Tuesday when Asif responded to an AI-generated image depicting Monroe, which challenged social media users to identify an object that would have been out of place in the 1950s.

Resharing the image on X, the defence minister identified the smartwatch worn by Monroe as the anachronism. The original post shared by Asif has since been deleted.

Addressing the criticism, Asif defended his response, arguing that he had simply answered the question posed in the post.

&ldquo;They presented a riddle asking about what was amiss with the photo [of Monroe], asking what should not have been present in 1956, and that was a smartwatch, so I wrote &lsquo;watch&rsquo;. What is non-serious about this?&rdquo; he said.

Asif maintained that being the defence minister did not mean he had to give up his personality or refrain from engaging with light-hearted content on social media.

He said he operated his account himself and used it &ldquo;for fun&rdquo;, questioning why his position should prevent him from expressing himself like any other individual.

&ldquo;Am I not Khawaja Asif? If I am the defence minister, should I let go of my identity? Whether it be good or bad?&rdquo; he asked.]]>
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			<title>Families of children killed in Peshawar school roof collapse demand justice</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635227/families-of-children-killed-in-peshawar-school-roof-collapse-demand-justice</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635227/families-of-children-killed-in-peshawar-school-roof-collapse-demand-justice#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 26 14:20:15 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2635227</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Dozens of people gathered on Friday outside the school to mourn the children killed in the collapse]]>
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				<![CDATA[The families of children killed in a roof collapse at a school in Peshawar&nbsp;called for &quot;justice&quot; on Friday, the day after more than 30 pupils and a teacher were crushed to death.

A woman teacher and 32 students, mostly younger than 14, died in the building collapse on Thursday morning.

&quot;The parents of all these children must receive justice,&quot; tailor Muhammad Wahab, who lost his 11-year-old nephew Hammad in the accident, told AFP on Friday.

Read: At least 30 children, teacher killed as school roof collapses in Peshawar

&quot;I appeal to our rulers,&quot; he said, adding that Hammad had been &quot;doing well in school&quot; before the tragedy.

Dozens of people gathered on Friday outside the school to mourn the children who were killed in the collapse, which officials blamed on dilapidated infrastructure.

One grief-stricken father showed AFP a picture on his mobile phone of his young daughter, dressed in red and gold, who lost her life.

Another parent, Asadullah, said he lost a son, nephew, and three other close relatives in the tragedy.

&quot;The children were good students and often achieved top positions in their classes,&quot; he told AFP. &quot;They happily went to school every day.&quot;

Residents and rescuers described chaotic scenes in the aftermath of Thursday&#39;s collapse, as people scrambled to pull children out from under the rubble.

Read more: Lahore roof collapse claims 14 young lives

A man named Sohail told AFP that &quot;everyone began screaming in panic&quot; when his niece, who had escaped the building, arrived home to tell them it had collapsed.

&quot;When I arrived at the scene, I saw around 10 to 15 children trapped beneath the rubble, with debris piled up to their necks. We quickly pulled them out,&quot; he said.

School owner detained

Images released by emergency services showed rescue workers in high-visibility vests scrambling to move debris, rubble and dirt.

A senior official in Peshawar told AFP that initial reports suggested the roof collapse was due to &quot;weak infrastructure&quot;.

&quot;The school owner has been detained,&quot; the official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the media.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed &quot;deep sorrow and grief over the loss of precious lives&quot; in an X post.



My heart is with the families grieving the loss of their children and a teacher in the tragic roof collapse at a school in Peshawar. No parent should have to endure such pain. I extend my deepest condolences and pray for strength for every family affected.

I have directed that&hellip;
&mdash; Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) October 15, 2026


President Asif Ali Zardari described the roof collapse as a &quot;heartbreaking tragedy&quot;.

Building collapses are common in Pakistan, largely due to poor safety standards and substandard construction materials in the South Asian nation of more than 240 million people.

In June, more than a dozen children were killed when a roof collapsed at a tutoring centre in&nbsp;Lahore.

In 2025, 27 people were killed and 10 injured when a five-storey building collapsed in&nbsp;Karachi&#39;s Lyari.]]>
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			<title>K-P orders safety checks at schools</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635108/k-p-orders-safety-checks-at-schools</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635108/k-p-orders-safety-checks-at-schools#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 26 22:41:01 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2635108</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Technical teams to submit district-wise reports by Oct 26]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government on Thursday directed the Communication and Works (C&amp;W) Department to constitute technical teams to inspect all government school buildings across the province following the deadly collapse of a classroom roof at a private school in Peshawar.

Earlier in the day, a roof collapse at Al-Khair Education System in Dir Colony claimed precious lives and left students and teachers injured, prompting concerns over the structural safety of educational institutions.

In a letter issued on October 15, the Elementary and Secondary Education Department asked the C&amp;W Department to nominate qualified technical teams for every district to conduct a comprehensive assessment of school buildings in coordination with the respective district education authorities.

The teams will examine roofs, ceilings, walls, beams, foundations, staircases and other structural components to identify defects, maintenance issues and potential safety hazards.

Under the terms of reference, the inspected buildings will be classified into three categories: safe, requiring repairs or improvement, and potentially unsafe buildings requiring urgent technical assessment.

The teams will also recommend repairs, structural strengthening and rehabilitation measures, along with implementation priorities and timelines for corrective action.

Buildings found to pose an imminent threat to students and staff must be reported immediately to the relevant district authorities, with recommendations for precautionary measures, including restricting access or suspending their use where necessary.

The department has directed the technical teams to coordinate with male and female district education officers to ensure that all government schools, including separate boys&#39; and girls&#39; institutions, are covered by the exercise.

The C&amp;W Department has been asked to submit comprehensive district-wise inspection reports, detailing structural deficiencies, safety classifications and recommended remedial measures, by October 26 at noon.

The teams will also be required to issue a building safety clearance certificate or no-objection certificate (NOC) for each inspected school, indicating its structural safety status, suitability for continued use and any conditions or repairs required.

The education department has stressed that the exercise be treated as a top priority, given the need to safeguard students, teachers and other staff in government educational institutions across the province.

The directive also makes clear that authorities must not wait for the province-wide survey to conclude before acting on buildings identified as posing an immediate safety risk.]]>
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			<title>TTAP to create a parallel political arm</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635105/ttap-to-create-a-parallel-political-arm</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635105/ttap-to-create-a-parallel-political-arm#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 26 22:41:01 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Rameez Khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2635105</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Alliance seeks independent support base as PTI steps back]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[With the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) now ready to take a back seat, Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Aain-e-Pakistan (TTAP) will establish its own political arm and develop a formal organisational structure at the provincial level, a TTAP leader has revealed.

The leader also said an All Parties Conference (APC) was expected to be held on October 25, give or take a few days.

TTAP, which drew much of its strength from PTI, was now in dire need of its own dedicated support base, the leader said. Given the government&#39;s strong-arm tactics, PTI could no longer flex its muscles as it had in the past.

With PTI&#39;s support virtually unavailable for the time being, TTAP leadership felt the multiparty opposition alliance needed to build its own support base to organise events and get its message across.

The leader said the alliance had asked its provincial chapters to develop organisational structures and establish working groups and research groups.

Asked why TTAP was pursuing the initiative again despite having announced it several times in the past, the leader said the biggest hurdle had been PTI itself, despite TTAP&#39;s desire to establish its own organisational structure.

He said PTI had initially viewed the move as an attempt to establish a parallel power centre, leading to heated discussions between the two sides. However, recent developments had made PTI realise the benefits of such an arrangement.

He said regional parties could offer only limited street power because of their relatively small support bases, adding that PTI had therefore remained TTAP&#39;s main source of strength.

Now that PTI chairman had agreed to and fully endorsed the initiative, TTAP had once again embarked on the mission, he said.

The move would allow TTAP to generate political pressure independently of PTI and enable it to challenge what it considers government injustices against the party, the leader added.]]>
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			<title>Naqvi defends direct rule 'as a last resort'</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635117/naqvi-defends-direct-rule-as-a-last-resort</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635117/naqvi-defends-direct-rule-as-a-last-resort#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 26 22:41:01 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2635117</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[He says federal delegation had waited for hours while other side held consultations in separate room]]>
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				<![CDATA[Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday said the federal government had continued negotiations with the opposition and the K-P government until the last moment in an effort to resolve outstanding issues and avoid the imposition of emergency and governor&#39;s rule.

Speaking during the joint sitting of parliament, he urged lawmakers from both sides who had participated in the negotiations to verify the facts, saying the federal government had neither walked out of the talks nor imposed any unreasonable deadline on the other side.

Naqvi said the federal delegation had waited for hours while the other side held consultations in a separate room. He added that the government had repeatedly engaged in dialogue and made efforts to move the process forward.

Referring to a document containing the points discussed during the negotiations, the interior minister said the federal government had attempted to accommodate the other side&#39;s demands. He stressed that the negotiations had never been a matter of ego for the federal government, as it remained willing to facilitate an agreement.]]>
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			<title>PTI disowns Imran's X account in IHC</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635119/pti-disowns-imrans-x-account-in-ihc</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635119/pti-disowns-imrans-x-account-in-ihc#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 26 00:19:49 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2635119</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Barrister Gohar appeared before the court in person]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has said the party does not claim ownership of the official X account of its founder, Imran Khan, as the Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted him more time to submit a written response in a petition seeking the account&#39;s closure.

Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, while hearing a petition filed by Ghulam Murtaza, adjourned further proceedings until November 23.

Barrister Gohar appeared before the court in person, along with Imran&#39;s lawyers Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry and Shamsa Kiyani, officials of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and other parties.

During the hearing, the court observed that Barrister Gohar had not been summoned to appear in person and could have simply submitted his written response.

In response, the PTI chairman maintained that the party did not claim ownership of the X account.

He requested additional time to file his response, arguing that circumstances had changed. The court granted the request and directed him to submit his position in writing.

After Barrister Gohar sought further time to file a detailed reply, the court adjourned the hearing until November 23.]]>
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			<title>Islamabad court grants interim bail to co-suspect in student suicide case</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635062/islamabad-court-grants-interim-bail-to-co-suspect-in-student-suicide-case</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635062/islamabad-court-grants-interim-bail-to-co-suspect-in-student-suicide-case#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 26 17:35:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Fiaz Mehmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2635062</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Bail valid until October 20; court asks parties to present arguments at the next hearing]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The Islamabad Additional District and Sessions Court on Thursday granted interim bail to the co-suspect&nbsp;in the Laiba Ijaz suicide case up to October 20.

Laiba, who had aspired to study at a top US university, was found hanging from a tree near a road in Islamabad on October 9, after her family allegedly lost around Rs7 million to a consultant who had promised to secure her admission and a scholarship. The Federal Investigation Agency&nbsp;registered a case against suspects Muhammad Nauman and Fatima Sarwar under Sections 419 (cheating), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and 109 (abetment) of the Pakistan Penal Code, read with Sections 18 and 22 of the Emigration Ordinance, 1979.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also took notice of the incident and directed the inspector general of Islamabad police and the chief commissioner to take immediate action against the suspect. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also vowed to look into the case personally.

During the proceedings of the session court, co-suspect Nihar Muhammad pleaded not guilty.

His legal counsel said he was innocent and had been wrongfully implicated in the case.

Read: PM Shehbaz takes notice of gold medallist&rsquo;s suicide in Islamabad following education funds scam

He also urged Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka to grant his client interim bail, which was granted against surety bonds worth Rs20,000.

The court also issued notices to the parties and directed them to present their arguments at the next hearing.

It is worth noting that the prime suspect in the case, Nauman, was sent on 5-day physical remand on Monday, October 12.

Police had registered the case against the suspects in the suicide case at Ramna Police Station.]]>
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			<title>Hottest monsoon in 66 years recorded</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635109/hottest-monsoon-in-66-years-recorded</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635109/hottest-monsoon-in-66-years-recorded#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 26 22:41:01 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2635109</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Temperatures hit 30.7°C as Sindh records a 51% rainfall deficit]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan&#39;s 2026 monsoon season has recorded the highest average temperature in 66 years, with the national average reaching 30.7 degrees Celsius and surpassing the previous record of 30.6&deg;C set in 2019, according to a report issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

The record comes seven years after the previous peak, while most parts of the country received below-normal rainfall, with Sindh recording the largest shortfall.

According to the report, Turbat in Balochistan recorded a temperature of 48.5&deg;C during the monsoon season. The season&#39;s hottest days in the area fell on July 7, 12, 30 and 31, spanning the beginning, middle and end of the month.

In contrast, Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan recorded a temperature of 6&deg;C on September 23 and 26, reflecting the colder weather conditions towards the end of the monsoon season.

The report highlighted significant regional differences in rainfall, with most parts of the country receiving less rain than normal. Gilgit-Baltistan was the exception, recording above-normal rainfall.

According to the PMD data, monsoon rainfall in Sindh remained 51% below normal, while Balochistan recorded a shortfall of 34%. Rainfall in Azad Jammu and Kashmir was 18% below normal, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 16% and Punjab at 4%.

In contrast, Gilgit-Baltistan received 5% more rainfall than normal, making it the only region mentioned in the report to record above-normal monsoon precipitation.

Despite the overall rainfall shortfall across most regions, some areas experienced heavy downpours.

Lahore airport recorded 252 millimetres of rainfall in a single day on July 23, 2026, while Gujranwala received a cumulative total of 607mm during July.]]>
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			<title>Capital to have 130 union councils</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634919/capital-to-have-130-union-councils</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634919/capital-to-have-130-union-councils#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 26 01:45:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634919</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Election appellate authority rejects all objections to Islamabad's UC's]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The regional election commissioner, acting as the appellate authority for delimitation in Islamabad, has rejected all objections to the boundaries of the federal capital&#39;s 130 union councils and their blocks, declaring the delimitation decisions valid.

With the decision, all 130 union councils of Islamabad have been finalised. Under the new Islamabad Local Government Act, the capital will have three municipal town corporations, three mayors and six deputy mayors.

Each of Islamabad&#39;s three National Assembly constituencies will have one municipal town corporation, designated Municipal Town Corporation-I, Municipal Town Corporation-II and Municipal Town Corporation-III.

The delimitation appellate authority has issued orders dismissing the objections.

A complete report will be sent to the Election Commission on Wednesday, after which the final notification will be issued.

Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court has remanded 27 appeals filed by political parties and candidates against the delimitation of union councils and councillor blocks in Rawalpindi and Murree districts to the District Election Commission, Rawalpindi, for fresh hearings.

The court directed the election authorities to hear all petitioners and issue fresh decisions on the delimitation of union councils and blocks in accordance with the merits of the cases and the relevant territorial boundaries.

The District Election Commission said it had been informed of the court&#39;s decision. Notices would be issued to all applicants next week, and their cases would be heard individually before fresh decisions were made.

Under the new Punjab Local Government Act 2026, Rawalpindi city has also been divided into two municipal town corporations, which will have two mayors and four deputy mayors.

Rawalpindi district has been divided into 17 local government entities, including two town corporations, five municipal committees, six tehsil councils and four cantonment boards.]]>
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			<title>Over 300,000 put under 1,291 smart lockdowns</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2242020/smart-lockdown-imposed-1292-areas-across-pakistan-ncoc-told</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2242020/smart-lockdown-imposed-1292-areas-across-pakistan-ncoc-told#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 20 15:20:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Razya Khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2242020</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Punjab, Sindh cross grim mark of 50,000 cases]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) was informed on Saturday that smart lockdowns had been enforced in 1,292 localities across the country during the last 24 hours to prevent the further spread of Covid-19.

The forum, which serves as the nerve centre of the country’s unified efforts to contain the spread of novel coronavirus, heard that a total of 308,600 people now remain under the restrictions in various parts of the country.

A total of 10 localities in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), having a population of 60,000, were put under smart lockdown, the forum was told. The smart lockdowns had been enforced in 844 localities of Punjab, confining 15,200 people.

Similarly, the lockdown had been imposed in 414 localities of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, with a population of 11,000, seven localities in Sindh with a population of 7,000, 12 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and five areas in Gilgit-Baltistan.

It was also informed that the federal and provincial authorities were ensuring compliance with the health guidelines and instructions, particularly regarding workplaces, industrial sector, transport, markets and shops, besides pursuing the track, trace and quarantine (TTQ) strategy.

The NCOC meeting, chaired by Planning Minister Asad Umar, was also informed that over 13,116 violations of health guidelines were observed across the country in the last 24 hours and punitive actions were taken against 1,541 markets and shops, 33 industrial units and 1,429 vehicles.

Later, the NCOC released details of ventilators and beds’ availability for Covid-19 patients across the country. According to a statement, 379 beds, 68 oxygenated beds and 43 ventilators were available in AJK. Though there was no patient on the ventilator there.

In Balochistan, 2,148 beds, 262 oxygenated beds and 36 ventilators were available for the virus patients. It said that no Covid-19 patient in the province was on ventilator. There were 151 beds, 43 oxygenated beds, 28 ventilators available in Gilgit, where one patient was on ventilator.

Islamabad had 514 beds, 262 oxygenated beds, 90 ventilators, while 18 patients were on ventilators, the NCOC said, adding that 4,856 beds, 1,081 oxygenated beds and 340 ventilators were available in K-P, where 85 patients were on ventilators.

In the most-affected provinces, 9,276 beds, 3,500 oxygen beds and 387 ventilators were available in Punjab, where 233 patients were on ventilators, while 8,274 beds, 739 oxygenated beds and 368 ventilators were available in Sindh, where 83 patients were on ventilators.

50,000 cases

Punjab and Sindh, two of the most populous provinces of the country, each crossed the grim mark of 50,000 coronavirus cases on Saturday, as the country endured another day of over 6,000 new infections amid a record-breaking surge in the pandemic.

In the last 24 hours, each of the two provinces recorded more than 2,000 new cases. According to the official data released on Saturday morning, the number of recoveries also crossed 50,000. However, as the day progressed, more Covid-19 positive cases were confirmed.

By midnight, the nationwide tally of Covid-19 patients stood at 135,943 with 50,087 cases in Punjab, 51,518 in Sindh, 17,450 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 8,028 in Balochistan, 1,093 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 7,163 in Islamabad and 604 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The virus has so far, claimed at least 2,597 lives.

The NCOC said that some 839,019 people had so far been tested, with nearly 30,000 tests conducted over the past 24 hours. The data showed that death ratio in confirmed cases also rose to 2%, from 1.7% earlier, while recoveries also climbed from 20% to 32%.

Spread among medical staff

According to the data, 3,858 health workers, treating the virus coronavirus patients, have also fallen victims to this pandemic. The disease has so far, claimed the lives of 36 health workers – 14 in Sindh, 7 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 5 in Balochistan, 6 in Punjab, 2 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 2 in Islamabad.

According to the report, the health workers affected by coronavirus included 2,327 doctors, 476 nurses and 1,055 other staff. Among them, 266 health workers are being treated in various hospitals, including 3 on ventilators due to their critical condition. Over 1,450 have recovered so far.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)]]>
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			<title>Tales of survivors: ‘Isolation, not coronavirus, was my worst nightmare’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2188962/tales-survivors-isolation-not-coronavirus-worst-nightmare</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2188962/tales-survivors-isolation-not-coronavirus-worst-nightmare#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 20 17:32:30 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sher Wali]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2188962</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[I was convinced that if my time is not up, this virus can never kill me]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[I’ve lived my worst nightmare. It wasn’t the coronavirus, but the prolonged treatment [read: observation] in isolation that made it a hellish experience. Imagine being confined to a tiny room with no social interaction whatsoever for almost a month. Doctors and nurses were the only visitors, who, too, would check on me once or twice a day.

If you’re sick, you need your loved-ones around you. The sense of having someone who cares about you gives you strength to fight illness. Conversely, social isolation makes you more vulnerable to sickness. Your immune system doesn’t respond properly in isolation and it takes you longer to heal.

In my case, it wasn’t me alone; my wife also shared the isolation ordeal at Mohammadabad Hospital, in Danyore, Gilgit-Baltistan. Interestingly, she didn’t have any symptoms, but tested positive for the virus. We both were in the isolation ward, while our five kids were at home – alone and worried.

The ordeal started after a trip to Iran. My wife and I went in a group of 22 pilgrims to visit the holy shrines in Iran. We mostly stayed in Qom, though our pilgrimage also took us to Mashhad, and to neighbouring Iraq.

Tales of survivors: ‘Never before had I seen doctors dressed up like aliens’

On Feb 22, we were preparing to return to Pakistan when we heard about the outbreak of some contagious disease in Qom. Until then, I didn’t know much about the coronavirus.

On Feb 25, we took a flight for Lahore. At Tehran airport, they didn’t allow anyone to board the flight without screening. Neither of us was sick. At Lahore airport, we were screened again. We drove to Rawalpindi where we stayed for two days. While fellow pilgrims dispersed, we took a bus for Gilgit on Feb 28 and reached our village Nomal, some 15km from Gilgit city, in the evening.

In the night I felt feverish. I took it for travel fatigue, took over-the-counter fever reducers from my neighbour and tried to sleep. It didn’t help. I started having chills.

Next morning, I called up the District Headquarters Hospital Gilgit and told medics about my travel and fever. A team of doctors immediately came to see me and my wife. We were then driven to the DHQ hospital in an ambulance. They took samples to test us for the novel coronavirus, while we were shifted to the Civil Hospital Basin. The samples were sent to National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad for PCR test because the facility wasn’t available in Gilgit-Baltistan. I lost my appetite but I tried to force-feed myself so that I could gather some energy to fight off my illness. After a couple of days, our test reports were received from NIH: both of us were positive for COVID-19.

After the diagnosis, they shifted us to the Mohammadabad Hospital, where we were to stay for the next 25 days. Interestingly, by now my fever was gone, while I had no cough, no muscle soreness, no sore throat, and no shortness of breath. My appetite returned to normal [I started eating more than I normally do]. My wife remained asymptomatic throughout all this time.

Tales of survivors: How I became Pakistan's first COVID-19 patient

I’m a 51-year-old ex-serviceman and my wife is 45. I had heard that the coronavirus could be fatal for people of my age and older. Doctors sought to reassure me. But honestly, I wasn’t scared one bit. It is part of our faith that every living being has to die one day. I knew if I was destined to die, I’d die no matter what. But if my time is not up, this virus can never kill me.

We were tested several times during our 25-day nightmarish sojourn. We had no symptoms, but would still test positive. I’ve heard that my wife’s reports were mixed up with another patient’s at the NIH.

Luckily, the PCR testing facility was made available in Gilgit in the meantime and we were tested locally for the first time. The results were negative and a repeat test a day later confirmed the virus was out of our bodies. It was a huge relief.

We were discharged from the hospital on March 28, but doctors said we should avoid socialising for 14 days. We’ve rented a house in Gilgit city to spend these two weeks here. It’s been five days now and we are counting the days till we are completely in the clear.

My advice to the sick: Don’t dread this virus. Keep your faith in God and power up your will, Inshallah you will defeat it. To everyone else, I say take all precautions possible. If not out of concern for the virus, then think of the ordeal isolation can create.

 (Narrated to Naveed Hussain)]]>
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			<title>'We honour his sacrifice': Dr Usama's fight against COVID-19</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2182160/honour-sacrifice-dr-usamas-fight-covid-19</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2182160/honour-sacrifice-dr-usamas-fight-covid-19#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 20 06:55:24 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[shabbir.mir]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gilgit Baltistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[It is a national tragedy and we will award him the status of national hero, says G-B CM]]>
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				<![CDATA[“We will again see what the issue is, and if they [quarantined pilgrims] need further treatment, they will be shifted to DHQ or city hospital, but if they can be treated here, we will provide treatment to them here.”

These were the last words of young doctor Usama Riaz, heard in a video recorded at a quarantine centre at Sakwar, Gilgit – where he ultimately ended up contracting the novel coronavirus while checking pilgrims returning from Iran and Iraq.

“Usama was continuously on duty and unfortunately was without proper protective gear necessary to handle coronavirus patient,” said a doctor referring to his video in which Riaz is seen wearing an ordinary mask. The video went viral on social media attracting sympathies for the young doctor.

Pakistani volunteers 3D-print ventilators, join war against COVID-19

According to relatives, Riaz returned home on Friday night from duty and went to bed. “But he couldn’t wake up next morning,” said the relative, adding he was rushed to combined military hospital (CMH) and then the district headquarter (DHQ) hospital where a CT scan machine was found to be out of order. The relatives appealed for airlifting him to Islamabad for treatment but that did not materialize either.

The 26-years-old Riaz, who was a resident of Chilas town, was then put on a ventilator at DHQ Gilgit, where he remained for the next three days before passing away on Sunday.

“It’s a national tragedy and we will award him the status of national hero,” Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman told The Express Tribune.

“He was our frontline defence and we honour his sacrifice.”

Riaz’s death brings the tally of fatalities to five in Pakistan. The country has so far above 800 known cases of the virus. Sindh has reported the highest number of cases.

Mehtabur Rehman, a local journalist, who visited the quarantine centre said, “I visited the centre where Usama was deputed and found the situation deplorable”.

“As far as protective gear, there was no such thing on the ground,” said the journalist who was later put on quarantine on ‘suspicion’ of visiting the centre without following the standard operating procedures. Rehman termed the quarantine as a vendetta for exposing the government’s false claims.

Young doctor screening coronavirus patients dies of COVID-19 in Gilgit

The Pakistan Medical Association of Gilgit-Baltistan (PMA G-B) reacted to Riaz’s death and accused the government of showing negligence towards genuine issues of the doctors.

“Dr Riaz had contracted COVID-19 due to the negligence of government and its health department,” said President PMA G-B Dr Zulfiqar Ali while addressing a press conference in Gilgit.]]>
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			<title>New coronavirus case emerges in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan's tally rises to 20</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2173948/new-coronavirus-case-emerges-gilgit-baltistan-pakistans-tally-rises-20</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2173948/new-coronavirus-case-emerges-gilgit-baltistan-pakistans-tally-rises-20#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 20 09:27:47 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[The 14-year-old boy, a resident of Skardu, was held at an isolation centre where he tested positive for COVID-19]]>
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				<![CDATA[The second coronavirus case of Gilgit-Baltistan emerged on Wednesday, raising Pakistan’s tally of total confirmed cases to 20.

The 14-year-old boy, a resident of Skardu, was held at an isolation centre where he tested positive for the mysterious viral pneumonia-like disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

So far 20 Pakistanis have been tested positive for COVID-19 with 15 of them belonging to Sindh, four in Gilgit-Baltistan now and one in Balochistan.

First coronavirus case surfaces in Quetta, raising Pakistan’s tally to 19

On Tuesday, the first coronavirus case emerged in the Balochistan capital. The 12-year-old patient had arrived in Quetta along with his parents from Iran via Taftan border, head of a government hospital said.

The family belongs to Dadu district in Sindh, said the medical superintendent (MS) of Fatima Jinnah Hospital, adding that parents, three siblings and paternal aunt of the child are tested negative.

One patient has already fully recovered and was discharged from the hospital in Karachi last week.

Meanwhile, Dr Zafar Mirza, the de facto health minister, has said the federal government is looking closely at the changing situation and new cases are being provided with the best medical care.

“No need to worry… the situation is completely under control. The federal and provincial governments are jointly making all-out efforts to protect the masses from coronavirus on war footing,” he wrote using his official Twitter handle.

Dr Mirza admitted that the coronavirus cases in Pakistan had doubled in the last 24 hours.

“This is not surprising. Disease has spread in 106 countries. All 19 cases have brought this from abroad. All are stable. There is no evidence of local spread as yet. If we act responsibly we can avoid spread,” he wrote.

He also advised the public to observe hygiene by washing hands properly, avoid touching face and keeping distance with sick people.

“The government is working hard to contain the spread, but we all need to take our part in this fight,” he added.

All educational institutions in Sindh and Balochistan have been closed till March 13 over fear of the contagious disease’s outbreak.

The mysterious COVID-19 virus, which originated in a vet market of the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, has since then spread to more than 110 countries of the world, killing over 4,000 and infecting over 115,000 people, mostly in China thus far.

But new outbreaks in Europe, the Middle East and in Asia have fanned fears of the contagion taking hold in poor nations that lack the healthcare infrastructure to cope.

There are growing fears in Pakistan — sandwiched between China and Iran, both hotspots for the disease — over how the country would deal with the outbreak.]]>
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