Author: Sajjad Ali

LAHORE: Counter terrorism force in Punjab claimed to have arrested 33 suspected terrorists including a key member of the global terrorist group Al-Qaeda during a series of secret operations across various cities in the province on Saturday. According to CTD officials, among those detained are six suspected terrorists arrested in Lahore. One of the detainees is identified as a key member of the terrorist group Al-Qaeda. Additional arrests were made in Nankana Sahib, Bahawalpur, and Sheikhupura. The suspects apprehended in Lahore include Ayatullah, Faisal, Bakht Jamal, and Hamza. Authorities recovered a substantial cache of explosive materials, weapons, hand grenades, equipment…

QUETTA: The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of the Balochistan police has successfully neutralized five terrorists during an intelligence-based operation in the Pishin district. The operation targeted the Surkhab refugee camp, a known hotspot for militant activity. According to a CTD spokesperson, the operation was initiated following credible intelligence reports of armed terrorists in the area. During the operation, a firefight ensued between security forces and the terrorists, resulting in the death of five terrorists. In addition to eliminating the terrorists, the CTD recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition from their hideout, further disrupting the terrorist infrastructure in the region.…

PESHAWAR: Security forces have killed four suicide bombers who attempted to attack a Frontier Corps headquarters in a northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said a military statement on Saturday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), media wing of the Pakistan Army, the incident occurred in the early hours of September 6, 2024, when the group of four militants tried to breach the camp. The ISPR confirmed that the security forces successfully thwarted the attack, killing all four bombers before they could inflict any damage. A sanitization operation is now underway to ensure no other militants remain in the area. The…

ISLAMABAD: Amna Baloch, a Grade 22 officer, has been appointed as Pakistan’s new foreign secretary, according to an official notification issued by the Establishment Division following the Prime Minister’s approval. Baloch, who previously served as Pakistan’s ambassador to Belgium, will assume her new role on September 11, succeeding Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi, who is retiring on September 10. Qazi will transition to a position as a member of the Federal Public Service Commission. Baloch’s appointment underscores her extensive experience in international diplomacy. As ambassador to Belgium, she played a crucial role in advancing Pakistan’s diplomatic interests in Europe and strengthening…

A 20-year-old Pakistani citizen residing in Canada, Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with plotting a mass shooting in New York City in support of the Islamic State, according to the Department of Justice. Khan, who also goes by Shahzeb Jadoon, is accused of planning the attack at a Jewish center in Brooklyn around October 7. This date marks nearly a year since the Hamas attack on Israel. US Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that Khan intended to kill “as many Jewish people as possible.” The Department of Justice has not confirmed whether Khan has legal representation.…

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir has urged against turning political differences into hatred, saying that the nation will not allow “nefarious objectives” aimed at undermining national unity to succeed. Speaking at the Defence and Martyrs Day ceremony at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on Friday, Army Chief praised the sacrifices of martyrs, and said that their contributions have brought stability and bolstered national security. “The bond between the armed forces and the nation is deeply rooted,” said the Chief of Army Staff (COAS). “The nation has consistently supported the army, whether during natural disasters, foreign hostilities, or the…

ISLAMABAD:  Jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, responded to a press conference held by the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR). The DG ISPR had claimed neutrality and non-political stance, to which Khan expressed skepticism. In a recent informal discussion with journalists at Adiala Jail, where he is currently detained, Imran Khan suggested that if the ISPR has genuinely become non-political, it would be beneficial for the country. However, he questioned their claim of already being non-political, calling it a significant misrepresentation. He highlighted the presence of military officials like Major, Colonel, and ISI agents in the jail…

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has requested the Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice, Ishtiaq Ibrahim, to form a judicial commission to investigate the May 9 riots. In a recent letter, the KP government has asked the PHC to appoint a judge to lead the commission, which will examine the May 9 events and identify those responsible. The aim is to hold the culprits accountable and present their findings to the public. The letter emphasizes that the commission should be headed by either a sitting or retired PHC judge. This request marks the second attempt by the KP government…

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has nullified the appointment of Lieutenant General (Retired) Munir Afsar as Chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). On Friday, the court upheld a petition challenging Afsar’s appointment, ruling in favor of the petitioner. Justice Asim Hafeez announced the verdict after hearing arguments from both sides. The petitioner, a woman, argued that Afsar’s appointment was illegal and unconstitutional. Lt Gen Munir Afsar had been appointed as NADRA Chairman on October 2 of the previous year. The federal cabinet approved his appointment from a list of three candidates proposed by the Ministry of…

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has dismissed all four miscellaneous applications filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) concerning the intra-party election case. A 10-page decision authored by Sindh’s member, Nisar Durrani, was issued by the ECP. The commission overruled PTI’s objection regarding its jurisdiction over intra-party elections and denied PTI’s request for a delay in proceedings. PTI’s plea to postpone action on intra-party elections until a decision on reserved seats was also rejected. The ECP has advised PTI to seek the return of documents taken from the party office through the court. The decision underscored that under Section 208…