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Karachi: A special accountability court in the city of Rawalpindi granted interim bail to the wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a graft case on Tuesday, local media outlet ARY news reported.
Bushra Bibi was accused alongside Khan in the case, which related to the alleged receiving of financial help from a land developer in the setting-up of Al Qadir University. Both have denied any wrongdoing.  She will remain in prison as she is also serving a sentence in a case that ruled her marriage with Khan as unlawful.
—Reuters

Rawalpindi court grants interim bail to Bushra Bibi, wife of ex-PM Imran Khan, in a graft case linked to Al Qadir University. Both deny allegations.

Wife of Pakistan ex-PM Imran Khan gets bail in graft case

Karachi: A cruel landlord and five of his servants in Pakistan's Sindh province have been arrested for chopping off the leg of a camel after it trespassed on his field seeking fodder, an incident that has attracted the attention of top political leaders, who are now arranging a prosthetic leg for the animal from Dubai.
Rustum Shar and five of his servants were arrested after he proudly posted a video, holding the mutilated leg of the camel, after cutting off the animal's right leg in Mund Jamrao village of Sanghar district last weekend.  The video caused an outcry on social media with animal rights organisations and the public demanding the government take action against the landlord for his cruel act.  The camel’s owner, peasant Soomar Behan did not report the matter to the police but was contacted by authorities after the matter came to light.  “The camel was immediately moved to the Comprehensive Disaster Response Services (CDRS) animal shelter in Karachi and a prosthetic leg has been ordered from Dubai for the camel,” Secretary Livestock Kazim Jato said, following his visit to the shelter at the instructions of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.
The Sindh government has committed to covering the cost of treatment of the animal and Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is arranging a prosthetic leg for the camel from Dubai, the secretary said.  Jatoi added that the camel’s leg is healing and will be x-rayed on Tuesday to determine the next steps in its treatment.  CDRS Benji Director Sarah Jahangir said the camel, affectionately named Cammie by shelter staff, is stable but infection is a constant threat. “She’s stable but her leg is infected,” she said.  “Treatment involves applying fresh dressings, antibiotics and IV fluids […] we’re trying to keep infection at bay.” The police said the peasant had refused to identify the culprit and to press charges against him so an FIR has been lodged on behalf of the State against six unknown persons.  Another FIR filed by the police said the officials in uniform were resisted and attacked when they tried to arrest the six suspects on Saturday.  Sub-Inspector Atta Hussain Jutt said the suspects were presented before duty magistrate Asif Sial on Sunday and have been remanded in police custody for four days.  The official said the police were still to recover the weapon used in the incident.  A further investigation was on in the matter, the official said.
—PTI

A cruel landlord in Sindh, Pakistan, cut off a camel's leg, sparking outrage. Political leaders are now arranging a prosthetic leg from Dubai for the animal.

Six arrested for chopping off camel's leg in Pakistan; to receive prosthetic leg from Dubai

Quetta [Pakistan]: In a poignant demonstration of their enduring grief and frustration, victims of enforced disappearances in Balochistan have chosen to forgo traditional Eid celebrations and instead hold a protest to express their anger against state agencies accused of committing atrocities against the Baloch people. Mama Qadir Baloch, a prominent figure in the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), announced the protest in a video statement. "For the past 15 years, the atrocities committed by the Army and intelligence agencies of Pakistan have led the Baloch to boycott Eid celebrations. While Muslims across the world celebrate this occasion, the Baloch mourn," he said. Mama Qadir, himself a victim of enforced disappearance, declared that the protest would take place at 4 PM on July 17 in front of the Quetta Press Club. The protest is expected to see participation from the victims' families and members of civil society. In a related event, families of the missing persons held a sit-in protest at Shaheed Fida Chowk on Eid day. This demonstration followed a similar protest in front of the DC office just a few days earlier, which had ended after the district administration provided assurances to the families. The decision to protest on Eid underscores the profound impact of the enforced disappearances on the Baloch community. For years, they have been seeking justice and answers for the whereabouts of their loved ones, who have allegedly been taken by state forces. These protests highlight the ongoing human rights issues in Balochistan and the desperate call for international attention and intervention. The Baloch community's boycott of Eid celebrations is a stark reminder of their unresolved plight and the continuing struggle for their basic human rights. The protest in Quetta aims to bring these issues to the forefront, hoping to garner support and prompt action against the enforced disappearances in the region.
—ANI

Balochistan victims of enforced disappearances boycott Eid celebrations to protest state atrocities, led by Mama Qadir Baloch, seeking justice and international support.

Pakistan: Baloch protest on Eid to highlight enforced disappearances

Karachi: A young man was allegedly killed by a security guard while he was recording a video for a social media platform, as reported by ARY News. Authorities revealed that the security guard, identified as Ahmed Gul, aged 35, shot Saad Ahmed, aged 24, when he was filming a TikTok video near Sereena Mobile Mall in the Buffer Zone area of Karachi. The police elaborated that the guard intercepted the young man before firing at him. The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Central disclosed that the incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Taimooria police station, and the responsible security guard has been apprehended, ARY News. During the initial interrogation, the guard alleged that Saad had made provocative gestures towards him while recording the video, as stated by the SSP. Authorities further disclosed that the guard was employed by a private security company, with his firearm, identified by its serial number '222', being confiscated. Confirming the retrieval of the weapon used in the fatal shooting, police said further investigation is on. This is not the first time, a TikTok-related accident was reported from Pakistan. In December last year, near the Sheikhupura district of Punjab, three youth lost their lives while shooting a video for the popular video-sharing platform, as reported by ARY News. The victims, residents of Khanqah Dogran city in Safdarabad Tehsil, were on a motorcycle, capturing footage for TikTok when they met with an accident. Distraction led to a head-on collision with a car approaching from the opposite direction, resulting in the tragic deaths of the three young men. On December 24, Jamia Binoria Town, a prominent religious school in Karachi, the capital of Sindh province, issued a fatwa (a religious decree) declaring the use of TikTok illegal and 'haram', terming it the biggest temptation of the modern era, Pakistani vernacular media reported. In the fatwa, the institution outlined ten reasons supporting its stance. The fatwa, delivered online by Jamia Binoria, asserts that TikTok poses an increasing danger as a 'fitna' (temptation) in the present age and is considered illegal and haram from a Shariah perspective. Among the reasons cited, the app's inclusion of photos and videos of animals is deemed forbidden in Sharia, and the creation and dissemination of obscene videos by women on the platform is highlighted, Dawn News TV report added. Furthermore, the fatwa condemns the practice of men and women on TikTok making videos involving dancing and singing, which is viewed as a means of spreading obscenity and nudity, deemed a waste of time and leading to moral decay. Jamia Banoria's fatwa underscores that TikTok not only contains videos that mock scholars and religion but is a platform where everything can be subjected to mockery and ridicule. In the past, religious scholars have been calling for a ban on TikTok as a reason for spreading immorality, and a partial ban has also been imposed on TikTok time and again in Pakistan, Dawn News TV reported. In 2021, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority imposed a five-month ban on the video-sharing app from July to November. The ban was lifted after TikTok provided assurances that it would enhance measures to control indecent or immoral content on the platform, The Express Tribune reported.
—ANI

A security guard fatally shot a young man recording a TikTok video in Karachi, highlighting social media dangers. Jamia Binoria Town declares TikTok haram.

Young man fatally shot by security guard for filming TikTok video in Pakistan

Balochistan [Pakistan]: A passenger bus heading from Turbat to Quetta fell into a ravine in Balochistan's Washuk district, killing at least 28 people and injuring 22 others, including women and children, Dawn reported on Wednesday. Assistant Commissioner (AC) of Basima, a town in Washuk district, Ismail Mengal told Dawn that the accident occurred when a tyre of the vehicle got burst, which led to it crashing into a hill and then plunging into a ravine.
"Three women and three children were also among the deceased," he added. He also noted that the bus, which had 45 to 50 passengers on board and was travelling from Turbat to Quetta overnight, met with the accident at around 5 in the morning, as per Dawn. Six passengers died on the spot, while some of the injured were in critical condition, with officials fearing the death toll could rise. The injured were taken to the Basima Civil Hospital, where 22 more people succumbed to their injuries, Dawn reported. Nine of the injured were in critical condition and transferred to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Khuzdar. The Pakistan Army was requested to airlift four other passengers in critical condition to Quetta via helicopter to be admitted in the trauma centre, it said.
The remaining 17 are being administered medical treatment in local Washuk hospitals. Due to the remote location and poor mobile network coverage, there were delays in alerting rescue teams. However, assistance was dispatched as soon as the news was received. Assistant Commissioner Mengal stated that most of the deceased have not been identified yet but Gwadar administration/officials are being approached for that purpose. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his condolences over the incident, praying for the departed souls, The News International reported. Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti also expressed deep regret and sorrow over the loss of lives in the accident, extending his condolences to the bereaved families. He directed officials to ensure the injured received the best medical care and prayed for their swift recovery. National Party President Abdul Malik Baloch also expressed his sorrow, describing the incident as tragic and painful, adding that thousands of lives have been tragically lost due to speeding buses and narrow roads. Like CM Bugti, he also ensured that the injured were provided with the best treatment. He also noted that there is an urgent need to construct two-way roads in Balochistan and that the government should make appropriate changes to the budget.
—ANI

A bus accident in Balochistan's Washuk district killed 28 and injured 22. Rescue efforts underway. PM Shehbaz Sharif expressed his condolences.

Pak: 28 died, 22 injured as bus falls into ravine in Balochistan's Washuk

Safdarabad [Pakistan]: In a shocking incident, a female doctor inadvertently shot her patient at the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Safdarabad, Sheikhupura, as reported by ARY News. The doctor in question, identified as Hina Manzoor, had reportedly kept a pistol in her purse while on duty. The firearm discharged while she attempted to retrieve it, resulting in a gunshot wound on the arm of the patient, Asia Bibi. Acting swiftly, the doctor transported the injured patient to Sheikhupura Hospital in her own vehicle. Subsequently, the family of the injured patient corroborated the incident. However, the hospital administration declined to provide CCTV footage to journalists, adding a layer of mystery to the unfolding events. In a separate occurrence, tragedy struck in the Gujranwala district of Punjab province when a woman accidentally fatally shot herself while cleaning her husband's pistol. Police reports indicate that the woman was engaged in the cleaning process when the firearm discharged, leading to her death. Law enforcement swiftly responded, cordoning off the area to gather evidence and facilitate medico-legal procedures at a nearby hospital where the body was taken. "We are investigating the incident from all angles," affirmed the police, indicating a thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident. This unfortunate incident echoes a previous case in Karachi's Gulistan-e-Johar block 11 area, where a 30-year-old man lost his life after accidentally shooting himself while cleaning a gun at his residence. Additionally, two individuals sustained injuries in the incident, underscoring the inherent risks associated with firearm handling and maintenance, ARY News reported.
—ANI

Female doctor accidentally shoots patient at Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Safdarabad. The incident, involving Dr. Hina Manzoor, raises safety concerns.

Woman doctor accidentally fires gun on her patient in Pakistan

Islamabad: At least 13 people, including five children, were killed and four others sustained injuries when a mini truck carrying a family fell into a ravine in Khushab district in Pakistan's province of Punjab, ARY News reported on Saturday. According to the rescue officials, the family was travelling from Bannu to Soon Valley in Khushab when the tragic accident took place. Quoting the eyewitnesses, ARY News reported that the speeding truck fell into the ravine when the driver took a sharp turn. Following the accident, the rescue teams reached the accident spot and shifted the bodies and injured to a nearby hospital. Whereas, in a separate accident, at least 18 people were killed and around 50 injured when a truck carrying pilgrims from Karachi to the Shah Noorani shrine in Balochistan, fell into a ravine, according to ARY News. The bodies and injured were immediately brought to Karachi Trauma Centre for medicolegal proceedings and providing medical aid to the survivors.
—ANI

13 killed, 5 children among them, as a mini truck falls into a ravine in Khushab, Pakistan. Another accident in Balochistan claims 18 lives.

Pakistan: 13 including 5 children killed as minitruck plunges into ravine in Khushab

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday resigned as the President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), ARY News reported, citing sources. Shehbaz Sharif has submitted his resignation as party president to Nawaz Sharif, the PML-N supremo. In light of the senior politician's resignation, the PML-N has decided to call a general council meeting in Lahore on May 28 to elect a new president. The PML-N had earlier announced to hold general council meeting on May 11, reported ARY News. In a recent presser, Rana Sanaullah stated that the Punjab chapter of the PML-N has asked Nawaz Sharif to take up the party presidency once more, stressing the importance of his leadership to the party's achievements. He stated that a resolution asking Nawaz Sharif to lead the party once more through this trying time was passed during the PML-N Punjab meeting, according to ARY News. It is important to note that, following his conviction in 2018, the former prime minister was barred from holding any public office. However, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) acquitted him in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia references on November 29 and December 12, respectively. After his acquittal, the former PM contested the General Elections 2024 and returned elected from NA-130 Lahore.
—ANI

Shehbaz Sharif resigns as PML-N president; party to elect new leader in Lahore meeting after Nawaz Sharif's recent acquittal.

Pakistan: Shehbaz Sharif steps down as President of PML-N

Islamabad: One police officer was killed and more than 100 people, mostly policemen, injured in violent clashes between security forces and protesters agitating against high prices of wheat flour and electricity in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, media reports said on Sunday.
The disputed region witnessed clashes on Saturday between the police and activists of a rights movement amid a wheel-jam and shutter-down strike across the territory, the Dawn newspaper reported.  Mirpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kamran Ali told Dawn.com that sub-inspector Adnan Qureshi succumbed to a gunshot wound in the chest in the town of Islamgarh, where he was deployed along with other police personnel to stop a rally for Muzaffarabad via Kotli and Poonch districts under the banner of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).  The JAAC, which has traders at the forefront in most parts of the state, has been seeking the provision of electricity as per hydropower generation cost in the region, subsidised wheat flour and an end to the privileges of the elite class.  On Wednesday and Thursday, around 70 JAAC activists were arrested by police during raids at their residences and those of their relatives in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur divisions, triggering serious clashes in Dadyal on Thursday.  The committee had subsequently announced a shutter-down and wheel-jam strike on Friday, a day ahead of its planned long march towards Muzaffarabad Saturday.  Amid a crippling strike on Friday, violent clashes took place between police and protesters in different areas of Muzaffarabad, the capital of PoK.  On Saturday, authorities placed mounds of earth on arteries leading to Muzaffarabad, apart from making more arrests, to prevent people from heading towards the state capital.  Witnesses said that Muzaffarabad division and Poonch division observed complete strikes.  The regional government has called for a heavy contingent of policemen to stop the massive protests.  SSP Yasin Baig said at least one police officer and a young boy were injured as police resorted to teargas shelling and aerial firing in some neighbourhoods after stones and bottles were pelted by protesters.  Kotli SSP Mir Muhammad Abid said that at least 78 policemen were injured in the district in “attacks of miscreants under the guise of protest”.  The SSP said 59 policemen, including Deputy Superintendent of Police Ilyas Janjua, and two revenue department officials were injured in Rehaan Galli while another 19 policemen were injured in Sehnsa Baroiyan.  A press release from the District Headquarters Hospital Kotli said apart from the 59 wounded policemen, nine injured protesters were also brought for treatment.  SSP Abid said some police officials were also reportedly injured in Doliya Jattan.  A total of 29 protesters were injured in the clashes, according to Geo News.  JAAC spokesperson Hafeez Hamdani said that the action committee had nothing to do with violence.  “It seems that such elements have been purposely planted in the ranks of protesters to bring a bad name to a struggle that aims nothing but the legitimate rights of the people,” he said.  Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Finance Minister of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir Abdul Majid Khan said that the government had exercised “maximum restraint and is ready for talks to peacefully address all contentious issues.  “Issues have to be resolved through dialogue and our doors are always open for negotiations. But the offer should not be misconstrued as a weakness of the government,” he said.  He said the government had accepted all demands of the action committee after which an agreement was signed between the committee and government negotiators, including the provision of targeted subsidy on flour and freezing the electricity tariff on June 2022 levels, but the committee later deviated from the agreement and announced a protest on new demands.  Pok’s so-called prime minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq said that the government was ready to give related relief to electricity and wheat flour prices after violent protests in Mirpur killed one officer and injured over 70 others.  "The government held negotiations with the Awami Action Committee (AAC) and we reached to an agreement which we are determined to implement," Geo News quoted Haq as saying.
—PTI

One police officer killed and 100+ injured in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir during protests over wheat flour and electricity prices.

One police officer killed, over 100 injured in clashes during protest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir

Karachi: A senior journalist was killed and seven other people were injured in a bomb attack in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province on Friday, police said.
Muhammad Siddiq Mengal, a senior journalist and also the president of the Khuzdar Press Club, was killed when a remote-controlled bomb hit his vehicle on the Sultan Ibrahim highway on the outskirts of Khuzdar town,' a police official said.
"Seven other people were also injured in the blast," he said.  Balochistan has been witnessing a series of terrorist activities for several years.  Most recently, on Thursday at least one died and 20 others were injured in twin landmine blasts that occurred near Thaikedar Naddi in the Duki district of Balochistan. The first explosion occurred when a truck hit a landmine, followed by a second blast as people gathered at the scene.  On Friday last, unknown assailants opened fire in the Kali Tarata area of Pishin district and injured two senior police officers, including a DSP and SHO. In a similar incident in the Tump area of the district, two labourers were killed by armed men.  In 2023, Pakistan ranked 150 out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF), a non-profit that defends and promotes freedom of information.  According to a report by Freedom Network, an independent national media watchdog, at least 53 journalists were murdered in the country from 2012 to 2022. Only in two cases have convictions been obtained.
—PTI

Senior journalist Muhammad Siddiq Mengal killed in a bomb attack in Balochistan. Rising violence and press freedom concerns loom large in Pakistan.

Pakistan journalist killed, 7 others injured in bomb blast in Balochistan province

Lahore [Pakistan]: One of the accused in the brutal killing of Indian national Sarabjit Singh in Kot Lakhpat jail in 2013 was seriously injured after an unidentified motorcyclist opened fire on him, Pakistan-based Samaa TV reported on Sunday. Aamir Tamba was seriously injured in the attack that took place in Lahore's Islampura area.
Police said Tamba was taken to the hospital for treatment as forces rushed to the site of the incident. The police cordoned off the area to conduct searches to find the assailants, according to Samaa TV report. Sarabjit Singh was a farmer from Bhikhiwind town in Punjab, who used to live near the India-Pakistan border, and who mistakenly crossed the border while he was drunk. However, he was sentenced to death by a Pakistani court in 1991. Singh was kept in the Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore for 22 years and after that, he was beaten up by his inmates and was taken to hospital. Singh was declared dead by doctors at Lahore's Jinnah Hospital after being comatose for five days due to severe injuries in the head after an attack on him on the jail premises in 2013.
In December 2018, the Lahore District and Sessions Court acquitted Tamba and co-accused Mudassar of all charges in the case of Sarabjit Singh in captivity, according to Samaa TV report. The court mentioned a lack of evidence as a reason for the acquittal of Tamba and Mudassar.
—ANI

A key figure in the 2013 killing of Indian national Sarabjit Singh was wounded in a Lahore shooting, reigniting cross-border legal and diplomatic controversies.

Pakistan: Sarabjit Singh's killer seriously injured in shooting in Lahore

Karachi: A goods train carrying chemicals from the Iranian border town of Taftan to Pakistan has derailed in the restive Balochistan province, prompting authorities to suspend the rail operations between the two nations.
The accident happened on Saturday near the Tozgi station in Balochistan.  "The derailment took place around 70 kilometres from Taftan, and we are not ruling out a terrorist attack," Pakistan Railways spokesperson Amir Baloch said while speaking to the reporters.
The derailment of the cargo train carrying phosphorus and other chemicals from Iran to Pakistan caused significant damage to the locomotive, the staff rest coach and a few other wagons with the cargo.  The accident happened just a day after a gruesome terror attack on the Noshki highway in the province on Friday night when militants abducted 9 labourers from the Punjab province from a passenger bus and took them into the mountains before killing them in cold blood.  The labourers were identified by their national identity cards by the perpetrators before taking them and killing them. Two other people who were driving a private vehicle were also shot at and were killed on the highway.  The militants had also damaged a railway track near Noshki. Baloch said restoration work was yet to begin as the railway workers engineers were on standby after the area was cordoned off.
—PTI

A goods train derailment in Balochistan, Pakistan, raises concerns of terrorism. Phosphorus cargo spill adds to tensions. Updates on Iran-Pakistan rail link.

Goods train between Iran to Pakistan derails, rails operations suspended

Balochistan: Amid the recent surge in cases of alleged enforced disappearances of citizens in Balochistan, the government issued a clarification, outright rejecting claims of "thousands of missing persons' cases," Geo News reported. The provincial government emphasized that the number of cases reported to the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances was not in the thousands, adding that the commission was functional and had detected some fake cases as well.
According to Geo News, the spokesperson said that the government put the resolution of the missing persons' issues among its top priorities. "If a family thinks that a member is missing, then it can directly contact the commission," it said. The government also mentioned that certain individuals listed as missing persons were discovered to be involved in a few terrorist incidents. Additionally, the ruling party in Balochistan, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), had previously proposed addressing the issue of enforced disappearances through a parliamentary committee, as per Geo News.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/militants-kidnap-kill-11-people-in-pakistan's-balochistan-province" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/militants-kidnap-kill-11-people-in-pakistan's-balochistan-province</a>&nbsp;
However, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee continues its protest against the alleged enforced disappearances of Baloch people. On Friday the committe highlighted the case of Naeem Rehmat who was forcefully disappeared on March 17, 2022, from Aman Aatoz Turbat. The committee said that despite continuous protests, including a recent demonstration on the day of Eid, aimed at securing his safe release, the administration's failure to provide a meaningful response only compounds the suffering and uncertainty for his family. The family has been protesting since the day of Eid, blocking CPEC Road in Shapuk.
In January, the then-caretaker Balochistan information minister Jan Achakzai claimed that those who were being labelled by Baloch protesters as "missing persons" were in fact "terrorists" and got killed in Pakistan's counterstrike inside Iran. Pakistan responded to a violation of its sovereignty by launching strikes on terrorists' hideouts within Iran, two days after Tehran's incursion into Balochistan resulted in casualties.  The incursion, which claimed the lives of two children and injured three girls, prompted the retaliatory action. He alleged that Mahrang Baloch, who was leading the protest in Islamabad against enforced disappearances of citizens, had been staging "drama" and defaming Pakistan under the guise of missing persons issue. Later in February, then caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar claimed that the government was facing an armed struggle in Balochistan, asserting that the armed individuals were fighting to "create a new state". The prime minister's statement came during his appearance before the high court in the missing Baloch students case. In separate statements, ex-premier Kakar also alleged that terrorists in Balochistan had been receiving funding from the Indian spy agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), and killing people in Balochistan.
—ANI

Amid rising tensions in Balochistan, Pakistan grapples with allegations of enforced disappearances, geopolitical conflicts, and accusations of terrorism.

Pakistan: Balochistan rejects claims of thousands of missing persons, links some to terror

Karachi: At least 11 people, including nine bus passengers, were killed by unknown militants in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, authorities said on Saturday.
In the first incident, armed men stopped a bus on the highway in Noshki district and kidnapped nine men at gunpoint on Friday, police said.  “The bodies of these nine men were later found with bullet wounds in the nearby mountainous areas near a bridge,” one official said.  “The bus was going from Quetta to Taftan when armed men stopped it and after identifying passengers took the nine men to the mountainous areas,” he added.  In a separate incident a car was fired upon on the same highway in which two passengers were killed and two others injured.  Balochistan’s Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said that the terrorists involved in the killing of the 11 people on Noshki highway would not be forgiven and hunted down soon.  Bugti that the terrorists involved in the attacks would be chased, adding that their aim was to sabotage the peace of Balochistan.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the incident, saying that the government stands with the families of the deceased at this time.  "There is no room for such a tragic incident...," he added.  No banned outfit has claimed responsibility for the killings but in recent weeks this year there has been a surge in terror attacks by banned outfits and terrorists in the province in which security forces and installations have also been brazenly targeted.  The banned Balochistan Liberation Army has claimed to having carried out three major terror strikes in the province in recent weeks in Mach town, Gwadar port and a naval base in Turbat in which security forces killed some 17 militants.
—PTI

11 dead in Balochistan terror attack; militants target bus, car on Noshki highway. Government vows action, condemns violence. No group claims responsibility.

Militants kidnap, kill 11 people in Pakistan's Balochistan province

Karachi [Pakistan]: During Ramzan 2024, Karachi witnessed a surge in crime, with 19 fatalities and 55 injuries resulting from resistance to robberies, as reported by ARY News. A police official disclosed that armed robbers were responsible for the deaths of 19 citizens in Karachi during robbery attempts.
This year, the city has seen a notable escalation in robbery-related fatalities, totalling 56, with over 200 individuals injured thus far. In comparison, the corresponding period last year saw 25 fatalities and 110 injuries due to resistance against robberies. In 2023, the figures were alarmingly higher, with 108 deaths and 469 injuries resulting from similar circumstances.
Karachi police have engaged in 425 shootouts with robbers this year, resulting in 55 dacoits being neutralized and 439 sustaining injuries. According to a report by the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), the first three months of 2024 saw 22,627 reported crimes, including 59 fatalities and over 700 injuries stemming from robbery resistance. Additionally, 373 cars, 15,968 motorbikes, and 6,102 mobile phones were reported stolen or snatched during this period. The CPLC report also documented 25 extortion incidents and five cases of kidnapping for ransom in Karachi, ARY News reported. Karachi's Police Chief, Additional Inspector General Imran Yaqoob, attributed a significant portion of the city's crime to outsiders, including individuals from interior Sindh and Balochistan. Yaqoob highlighted that approximately 4,00,000 "professional" beggars and criminal elements flock to Karachi during Ramzan and Eid-ul-Fitr. He also said that the city's daily crime rate of 166 cases per day, while concerning, was comparatively lower than that of other major cities in Pakistan. Addressing Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and other stakeholders during a meeting on April 8, Yaqoob reiterated that Karachi's crime rate was relatively modest, averaging less than one case per police station, despite the challenges posed by external criminal elements, ARY News reported.
—ANI

Karachi sees alarming crime rise during Ramzan 2024, with 19 killed in robberies. Police combat increasing thefts and robberies, affecting city safety.

Pakistan: 19 killed, 55 injured over resisting robberies during Ramzan

Lahore [Pakistan]: As inflation has become a major issue in Pakistan, people are finding it difficult to manage their expenses with the available job opportunities and incomes. Mohammed Rashid Khan, a person from to Lahore stated that "the question of low or high inflation does not persist anymore. The people now are forced to break the Ramadan fast with just water. As we are not able to manage the expenses of food, everything is costly. Cost of petrol and diesel is unaffordable for us. Take a look at the latest electricity bills, a new tax has been implemented. How will a daily wage worker like me manage? The government had promised to give us some relief during the month of Ramadan but nothing has improved till now. Ramadan is now over Eid is here, but choose any market across Lahore and you will find that the cost of all basic commodities has not yet decreased."
Another citizen, Muhammad Ayub stated, "The government is now incapable of handling the problem of inflation. All our necessities are unaffordable, every month we have to decide between paying electricity bills and rent. Moreover, we are now forced to compromise one necessity for another for our survival."
Another person belonging to the middle-income group in Lahore said, "The situation of inflation in this country is pathetic, it is now out of control and the lower-income group suffers the most. Look at petrol, look at the costs of all food items, and the cost of all other necessities are out of control. On one side we are now clueless, about how to manage this condition of high inflation, and on the other hand the conditions in Pakistan are growing worse every day." "There was a time when we used to plan for spending PKR 20000 during Ramadan season, but now we are barely able to spend even PKR 2000 for the festival. And the loan given by the IMF will soon increase inflation because of severe monetary conditions for their loans. These conditions of the IMF will raise the prices even further," he said.  The terror of inflation in Pakistan has now overshadowed the spirit of Eid in Pakistan and amid the worsening conditions, hope for betterment is growing weaker.
—ANI

Inflation grips Pakistan, squeezing budgets and overshadowing Eid. Citizens decry rising costs, stagnant incomes, and government's ineffective response.

Pakistan: High inflation dampens the spirit of Eid in Lahore

Karachi: At least three people, including a policeman, were killed and 20 others injured in two separate bomb blasts in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, police said on Tuesday.
In the first incident, a policeman was killed and 15 others were injured when a blast occurred at a mosque in the Kuchlak area of the province's Quetta district on Monday.  "People were offering Maghrib prayers when the explosion took place at the mosque," a police official said.
In another incident, two people were killed and five others were injured in a bomb blast in a marketplace near Umar Farooq Chowk in Khuzdar town on Monday.  A senior police official said the blast took place when there was a crowd, including women and children in the market for Eid shopping.  “Two people have been killed and five others injured in the explosion,” the senior officer said, adding that police and other law enforcement forces rushed to the explosion site and shifted the bodies and injured to Khuzdar Teaching Hospital.
Bomb Disposal Squad officials were busy investigating both sites and initial reports suggested both blasts were committed through improvised explosive devices (IED) planted motorbikes and parked near the Umar Farooq Chowk and the mosque.  “It seems, the motorbike IEDs were detonated with a remote control,” the official said.  No banned outfit has claimed responsibility for the blasts so far, but in the recent weeks this year, there has been a surge in terror attacks by banned outfits and terrorists in the province in which security forces and installations have also been brazenly targeted.
The banned Balochistan Liberation Army has laid claim to having carried out three major terror strikes in the province in recent weeks in Mach town, Gwadar port and a naval base in Turbat in which security forces killed some 17 militants.
—PTI

Three killed, 20 injured in bomb blasts at a mosque and market in Balochistan, Pakistan. No claims of responsibility yet as terror attacks surge in the region.

3 killed, 20 injured in two bomb blasts in Pakistan's Balochistan province

Islamabad: Jailed former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has agreed with the authorities on certain conditions to govern his meetings with his party leaders at the high-security Adiala jail where he is currently lodged, a media report said here on Saturday.
The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) detail the schedule for 71-year-old Khan's meeting with his lawyers, family members and party leaders, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.  "The founding chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the jail superintendent have agreed on the SOPs governing meetings at Adiala," said the report.  The SOPs, duly signed by Imran and the jail official, also specify the appointment of three focal persons by the former prime minister to facilitate the meetings.
"The designated focal persons for these meetings are Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Sher Afzal Marwat, and Barrister Umair Niazi. Each focal person is authorised to nominate two individuals for meetings within the jail," said the report.  Meetings will be scheduled twice a week -- Tuesdays for family members and Thursdays for legal representatives and other visitors.  According to the SOPs, meetings with individuals under court orders will be contingent upon the approval of the PTI founder.  According to jail reports, 10 individuals met with Khan on March 26 and 18 on March 28.  The two-week restriction on meeting prisoners, including Khan, in Adiala jail came to an end on Wednesday, the report said.  Given the security concerns, the Punjab government notified on March 12 banning visitations in Adiala jail for 14 days.  Khan has been in jail since August last year and just before the February 8 polls, he was sentenced to a 31-year jail term in three different cases. In total, he is facing over 200 cases.
—PTI

Imran Khan sets meeting terms in Adiala Jail with PTI leaders. Agreed SOPs to dictate interactions with legal, family, and party representatives amidst stringent security.

Jailed former Pakistan PM Imran Khan agrees to SOPs with authorities for meeting at Adiala Jail: Report

Karachi: At least five mine workers were killed when the roof of a house collapsed due to heavy rainfall in Pakistan's Balochistan province.
According to the police officials, the house was built for the accommodation of the workers outside the local coal mine.  The coal mine collapsed due to the torrential rain and five workers were buried under the debris and died, they said.  According to the police authorities, the bodies of the deceased were shifted to the hospital, from where they were sent to their native areas after necessary action.
The heavy rains have also killed some seven people from a house collapse in the same area, police said.  The incident comes just days after 12 coal miners were killed in a methane gas explosion inside a mine in Harnai in the province while in another incident three coal miners were kidnapped four days back by armed men from a mine in Dukki and are yet to be recovered by the law enforcement agencies.  The latest incident has again reignited the discussion around the existing safety protocols for coal mine workers and the steps needed to enhance these protocols to save lives.
—PTI

Five mine workers perish as heavy rainfall triggers roof collapse in Balochistan, Pakistan. Incident raises concerns over coal mine safety protocols.

Five miners killed after roof collapses due to heavy rain in Balochistan

Colombo: Sri Lanka was put on high alert on Friday and security beefed up in major cities across the country, with special surveillance around the Churches having Good Friday services, according to a senior police official.
Police spokesman Nihal Thalduwa said that over that 6,000 police personnel, over 3,000 military soldiers and over 400 elite special task force members have been deployed across the country on the occasion of Good Friday.  "We have identified 2,268 churches having Good Friday services to provide special security,” Thalduwa said.  Police have also set up a special hotline to report any suspicious movements near the churches.  The police said they were taking all precautions in view of the fifth anniversary of the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide bombings which killed 270 people, including 11 Indians.
Meanwhile, the Magistrates Court in central Colombo’s Maligawatta has issued a summons to former president Maithripala Sirisena to appear before the court on April 4 to record a statement.  This was following the police’s CID reporting to court a statement recorded from Sirisena last week over his public comments that he was aware of who carried out the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings.  Sirisena as the president then held the defense ministry and he was accused of inaction to prevent the attack despite the availability of prior intelligence.  Sirisena was ordered to pay 100 million rupees as compensation to the kith of the 2019 bomb attack victims.  A local jihadi group with links to ISIS was originally blamed for the attacks.
—PTI

Sri Lanka on high alert for Good Friday services. Enhanced security measures deployed amidst threat concerns.

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