ISLAMABAD: Umar Hayat, accused of murdering 17-year-old TikToker Sana Yousuf, pleaded not guilty on Saturday as an Islamabad sessions court formally framed charges against him. During the hearing before Additional District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Afzal Majoka, the accused was asked directly: “Did you kill Sana Yousuf?” Hayat denied the allegation, calling all charges “false and baseless.” The court also informed him of charges relating to snatching Sana’s mobile phone, which he similarly rejected. According to police, 22-year-old Hayat allegedly forced his way into Sana’s residence in Islamabad’s G-13 sector in June, opening fire at close range after she rejected…
Author: Saifullah
ISLAMABAD: The Secretariat Police have registered a case against 70 lawyers — including Imaan Mazari-Hazir, Intizar Panjhutha, Naeem Panjhutha, and Hadi Chatha — under anti-terrorism provisions following a complaint by Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) President Wajid Gilani. According to the FIR, over 150 lawyers allegedly raised derogatory slogans against the Chief Justice and the Pakistan Army during a protest in support of Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri, who has been barred from judicial duties pending a Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) decision on his academic credentials. Gilani further alleged that Intizar Panjhutha, Naeem Haider, and Mustafeen Kazmi, along with others,…
ISLAMABAD: Security sources confirmed on Saturday that Gul Rehman alias Ustad Mureed — the operational commander of the Indian-backed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) was killed in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. Rehman, a senior commander of the BLA’s notorious Majeed Brigade, was the mastermind of the Jaffar Express attack in Quetta earlier this year. According to Indian media reports, he was eliminated on September 17. In March, the BLA targeted the Jaffar Express in Bolan district by blowing up train tracks and holding more than 440 passengers hostage during a day-long standoff. Security forces launched a decisive operation, rescuing the hostages and…
The downing of Rafale jets — advanced French-made fighters once hailed as the crown jewel of Western military technology — during the India-Pakistan war marked a turning point in modern air combat. The victory was not just tactical but symbolic, delivering a blow to Western technological supremacy and bringing Pakistan’s air power into the global spotlight. Through precision, coordination, and superior doctrine, Pakistan’s defence forces demonstrated that they are not just participants but leaders in 21st-century warfare. On September 17, the announcement of the Pakistan-Saudi Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) reinforced this trajectory, formalising a pact that cements Islamabad’s role…
Pakistan’s military spokesperson has made it clear that the country’s relations with global powers will not be dictated by outdated “either–or” frameworks. This message could not have been more timely — or more necessary. Unlike the Cold War era, where nations were often forced to pick sides, Pakistan is determined not to act as a pawn in the strategic games of others. Instead, Islamabad is positioning itself as a responsible, sovereign actor — one that seeks cooperation without compromise and engagement without submission. This stance deserves recognition. It sends a powerful signal to the international community: Pakistan is not out…
Peshawar (Hassan Ali Shah) – Khyber TV Peshawar aired a special live morning show to discuss the historic defence agreement recently signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The program was broadcast not only in Pakistan but also in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Afghanistan, and several European countries. The show was hosted by Meena Shams and featured a panel of guests including Zaki-ur-Rehman, Kamran Jan, Muhammad Waseem, and Jamshed Ali Khan. Zaki-ur-Rehman welcomed the agreement as a landmark step, stating that Pakistan’s military strength and strategic importance are now being recognised at the global level. He added that the…
LONDON – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said that several countries have shown interest in signing defence agreements with Pakistan after the landmark Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) with Saudi Arabia. “It is premature to make announcements, but after this historic development, other countries have also expressed a desire for similar arrangements,” Dar told reporters in London on Friday. “Such agreements follow a proper process. Even with Saudi Arabia, it took months to finalise.” The statement came two days after Pakistan and Saudi Arabia formally signed the SMDA, pledging that any aggression against one country would…
TOKYO – Pakistan’s star javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem bowed out of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo after the fourth round of throws but won hearts once again with his humility and grace. In a heartfelt note shared on X, Arshad thanked his supporters for standing by him. “Dear Pakistanis, I want to thank each and every one of you for your unwavering support and love throughout the World Athletics Championships,” he wrote. “Although I couldn’t achieve the result I had hoped for in the final, I am proud to have represented our nation on the biggest stage… I promise…
ISLAMABAD – The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has approved key agreements and financing plans for the $7.723 billion first phase of the Reko Diq copper and gold project, along with $390 million bridge financing for a major railway link from Balochistan to Port Qasim. The meeting, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, endorsed definitive agreements between state-owned enterprises, the Balochistan government, and lenders to operationalise the long-awaited project. The financing package includes a revised debt structure of $3.5 billion, up from $3 billion, while equity contributions have been adjusted in line with final costs. Under the plan,…
DARRA ADAM KHEL – A rescue operation in Darra Adam Khel ended in tragedy when Rescue 1122 sent untrained staff – an LTV driver and a security guard – into a dangerous mine rescue mission. Both embraced martyrdom after being deployed without proper expertise or protective arrangements. The incident has raised serious concerns over institutional negligence and blatant violation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Rescue sources confirmed that despite the hazardous nature of the mission, no qualified technical team was assigned. This is not the first time such mismanagement has cost lives. A few years ago, during the Forest Hill…
