Author: Sajjad Ali

SARGODHA: Nine friends who had gone on a trip to Kaghan Valley have gone missing from the Salim Interchange, Motorway-2 near Sargodha. Family members of the missing individuals have blocked the road in protest, demanding action from the authorities. The nine friends, including Faisal, a resident of Chak-75 North, left for Kaghan Valley on June 18. They arrived at the Salim Interchange on Motorway-2 on June 22 at 11 PM and have been missing since then. Their mobile phones have been switched off, and their whereabouts remain unknown. In response to the protest by family members, the police have registered…

KARACHI: Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Ali Raza was martyred in a gun attack near Karachi’s Karimabad area. Unknown armed assailants opened fire on Ali Raza, who was serving as DSP CTD Investigation, causing serious injuries. He was subsequently taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. In response, the Sindh Home Minister has requested a report from the Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) CTD and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Central regarding the incident. The Minister has also ordered immediate action to apprehend those responsible for the attack.

Pakistani boxer Shahir Afridi Khawar clinched the title of Asian champion in the professional middleweight category by defeating Indian boxer Ronit Solankhi in a bout held in Thailand on Saturday. Afridi achieved a dramatic victory by knocking out Solankhi in the third round. In the closing moments of that round, Afridi delivered a powerful punch that caused Solankhi to stagger and ultimately fall to the canvas. The match, part of a series of professional boxing events in the region, took place in Bangkok. Afridi’s stellar performance has once again highlighted Pakistan’s strength and skill in the realm of boxing. Celebrating…

Sri Lankan authorities have apprehended 137 Indian nationals in a significant cybercrime bust spanning multiple cities. These arrests follow numerous complaints of widespread online scams and fraudulent schemes. The Criminal Investigation Department carried out raids in various locations, leading to the capture of suspects who had been running scams targeting unsuspecting citizens for an extended period. During the raids, police seized 158 mobile phones, 16 laptops, and 60 desktop computers from the arrested individuals. The crackdown was initiated after a victim reported being deceived by a WhatsApp group promising cash for social media interactions. Further investigation revealed a scheme that…

Pakistan’s new budget has faced criticism for imposing substantial taxes on air travel, significantly raising the cost of Umrah pilgrimages, international travel, and business trips. Effective from July 1, the increase in airfare has compounded difficulties for Umrah pilgrims and those traveling to Gulf countries, Europe, the USA, Canada, and Australia. The federal excise duty (FED) on economy and economy plus tickets has soared from 40% to an astonishing 150%, with the tax on economy tickets rising from Rs5,000 to Rs12,500 for all destinations. The tax burden extends beyond economy class. Business, club, and first-class tickets to America now face…

QUETTA: The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is scheduled to meet today (Saturday) in Quetta to sight the moon for the new Islamic year, Muharram-ul-Haram 1446 Hijri. The session, which will be held at the DC Complex in Quetta, will be presided over by Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad. Members from both central and zonal committees will participate in the moon sighting activity. The zonal committee sessions will take place in various locations, including Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, and other areas. These zonal committees will share their moon sighting evidence with the central committee. The final decision on the moon…

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) has canceled Islamabad Jalsa, stating that they have always depended on the law. The decision has been taken following the Islamabad district administration’s decision to suspend the party’s permission to hold a power show at Tarnol Chowk in Islamabad. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, addressing a press conference, announced the decision to postpone the rally. He mentioned that the political committee decided to delay the rally and that it will now be held after Muharram. PTI Moves Court Against Cancellation of NOC for Islamabad Rally “We have always relied on the law,” said Barrister Gohar. “Today, we…

Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian has won Iran’s runoff presidential election, beating hardliner Saeed Jalili, who was enjoying support from supreme leader, the country’s electoral authority announced on Saturday. Out of 30.5 million votes counted in Friday’s runoff, Pezeshkian secured over 16.3 million, edging out ultraconservative Saeed Jalili, who garnered more than 13.5 million, according to state-run Press TV. Voter turnout was reported at 49.8%. Pezeshkian was elected in a second round of voting after leading the first round, ahead of Jalili. The initial round saw the lowest voter turnout for a presidential election since the Islamic Republic was established in…

KABUL: Months after Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada ordered the reduction of female employees’ salaries to 5,000 Afghanis, the Taliban government has now suspended the salaries of female teachers, sparking grave concerns and frustration among educators. Earlier, Akhundzada had issued a decree instructing Taliban-run institutions to cut the salaries of female government employees, including teachers, to 5,000 Afghanis ($70). Several female teachers reported that the Taliban has initiated a process of “separating salary scales,” with plans to reduce their monthly salaries to 5,000 Afghanis. They expressed that this drastic reduction would force them into dire economic situations, potentially leading them to…

ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a flash flood alert for local nullahs and streams in Islamabad, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. According to the NDMA’s National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC), areas including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Narowal, Murree, Galliyat, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Dir, Swat, Kashmir, and the hill torrents of D.G. Khan and Rajanpur may experience flooding due to the ongoing monsoon spell, which is expected to last until July 7th. The NEOC also warned of potential urban flooding in Lahore, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar. Data from the Federal Flood Division and…