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Umar Khalid Khorasani, 9 associates confirmed killed by US drone strike

October 20, 2017October 20, 2017 News Desk

The chief of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA), an offshoot of the Pakistani Taliban, has been killed in a US drone strike, a spokesman for the group confirmed to AFP on Thursday. “Chief of our Jamaat-ul-Ahrar Umar Khalid Khorasani, who sustained serious injuries in a recent US drone strike in Afghanistan’s Paktia province, succumbed to his injuries Wednesday evening,” JuA spokesman Asad Mansoor told AFP by telephone from an undisclosed location. “At least nine close associates of Khorasani were also killed in the strike,” he added. Mansoor said a high-level meeting of JuA’s consultative council will be convened soon…

Nawaz Sharif indicted in Flagship Investments reference, pleads not guilty

October 20, 2017 News Desk

An accountability court on Friday indicted ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif in a reference related to Flagship Investments and other offshore companies. The court charged Sharif in absentia for holding assets beyond his known sources of income, and read out a charge-sheet to his pleader, Zafir Khan. Khan pleaded not guilty on behalf of Sharif, who is currently in London tending to his ailing wife. According to the charge-sheet, Sharif told the joint investigation team that he was a shareholder in 15 companies, including Flagship Investments, Hartstone Properties, Que Holdings,…

7 killed, 24 others wounded in blast targeting police vehicle in Quetta

October 18, 2017 News Desk

At least seven people, including six policemen, were killed and 24 others injured in an explosion targeting a truck carrying police officials in the Sariab Mill area of Quetta on Wednesday. Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Abdul Razzaq Cheema said an investigation is underway to determine whether the blast was a suicide bombing or whether an explosives-laden vehicle was detonated remotely when the police truck was passing by, adding that the death toll could increase. The 35-strong contingent of elite policemen had been recently assigned patrol of various sensitive…

Nawaz Sharif distances himself from Safdar’s anti-Ahmadi remarks

October 16, 2017 News Desk

ISLAMABAD: Two days after Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi distanced himself from the anti-Ahmadi tirade by retired Captain Mohammad Safdar on the floor of the National Assembly, PML-N president Nawaz Sharif has also distanced his party from it. “I declare it in categorical and unequivocal terms that all minorities living in Pakistan enjoy complete fundamental rights, including protection to their lives and property, under the Constitution and Islamic teachings,” Mr Sharif said in a statement issued from London and released to the local media by PML-N spokesman Senator Asif Kirmani here on Sunday. “Any…

UK army chief briefed on Raddul Fasad, border management

October 15, 2017October 15, 2017 News Desk

PESHAWAR: Chief of the General Staff (CGS) of British Army Gen Sir Nicholas Patrick Carter called on Peshawar Corps Commander Lt Gen Nazir Ahmed Butt at the Corps Headquarters on Saturday. During the meeting, the British officer was given a briefing on Operation Raddul Fasad, border management, return of temporarily displaced persons as well as development and rehabilitation projects undertaken by the Pakistan Army for tribal people in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Gen Carter also visited a forward post in Khyber Agency, where he was apprised about the achievements…

First ODI: Sri Lanka 175 for 7 chasing Pakistan’s 293-run target

October 13, 2017October 13, 2017 News Desk

Pakistani bowlers have done a good job so far, restricting Sri Lanka to 175 for the loss of seven wickets as they chase a target of 293 set by Pakistan batting first in the first ODI at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Sri Lanka barely managed to cross the 100-run in 25 overs, and also lost 7 wickets in the process With just four wickets in hand and tail exposed, Sri Lanka still require another 118 or more runs in next 8 overs. Babar Azam struck a slightly laboured hundred…

ISPR should refrain from commenting on state of the economy: interior minister

October 13, 2017October 13, 2017 News Desk

Ahsan Iqbal Interior Minister of Pakistan

Through a statement circulated by his public relations officer, Interior Minister Asan Iqbal on Friday said that the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, should refrain from commenting on the country’s economic situation, DawnNews reported. The response seems to have been directed at an interview the military’s spokesman gave to a private TV channel the day earlier, in which he had said that: “If the economy is not bad, it is not doing so well either.” The remarks followed an address by army chief Gen Qamar Javed…

Jahangir Tareen did not disclose entire income to ECP, observes SC

October 12, 2017October 12, 2017 News Desk

The Supreme Court on Thursday told the counsel representing Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Jahangir Tareen that he had failed to convince the court that his client was exempted from paying tax on 18,566 acres of leased land. A three-member apex bench ─ headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Umar Atta Bandial and Justice Faisal Arab ─ was hearing a petition filed by PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi which seeks the disqualification of Tareen and PTI Chief Imran Khan over the alleged non-disclosure of assets, existence of offshore…

Canadian-American family, kidnapped in 2012 in Afghanistan, recovered by Pakistan Army

October 12, 2017October 12, 2017 News Desk

Canadian Family Recovered by Pakistan Army

The Pakistan Army said on Thursday that it had recovered “safe and sound” a family of foreign hostages from the custody of a terrorist outfit after it received and acted on intelligence shared by the United States (US). An Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement today said the hostages included a Canadian man, his American wife and their three children. The hostages were recovered “through an intelligence-based operation by Pakistani troops and intelligence agencies.” “They were captured by terrorists from Afghanistan in 2012 and kept as hostages there,” the ISPR handout…

‘Fake’ list of MNAs with links to militants not an inside job: IB chief

October 11, 2017October 11, 2017 News Desk

LAHORE: The Intelligence Bureau’s (IB) probe to identify the culprit responsible for circulating a ‘fake’ list of 37 parliamentarians, mostly members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, who were alleged to have links with proscribed outfits, has established that it was not an inside job. “We have completed a departmental inquiry regarding the preparation and dissemination of the fake list of MNAs and found that none of our members are involved in it,” IB chief Aftab Sultan told Dawn on Tuesday. He said since the IB was party to the case, the…

Just how much does Nawaz Sharif own, according to himself?

October 9, 2017 News Desk

Some of Pakistan’s most prominent politicians have found themselves in the limelight for all the wrong reasons this past year, with corruption accusations against prominent names flying thick and heavy from power brokers and aspirants alike. As demands for the questioning and indictment of political personalities gain momentum, one among those accused has already paid a heavy price: former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has already been disqualified from holding public office in a landmark judgement handed down by the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers case for not declaring his assets as…

‘Not afraid of arrests’: Maryam, Capt Safdar granted bail in NAB reference

October 9, 2017 News Desk

Maryam Nawaz, daughter of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, and her husband retired Captain Muhammad Safdar appeared before an accountability court in Islamabad on Monday in connection with a reference prepared against them by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Maryam arrived at the court amid tight security Monday morning, accompanied by senior PML-N leaders and ministers. Her husband, who was taken into custody by NAB upon his arrival to Pakistan, was brought to the court later. The son-in-law of Nawaz Sharif and his wife had arrived from London on Monday…

15 killed in accident on Quetta-Sibi highway

October 8, 2017 News Desk

QUETTA: Fifteen people, including three security personnel, were killed and 29 others injured in an accident on the Quetta-Sibi highway near the Dasht area of Mastung district, some 25km from here, on Saturday. Sources said that a passenger van coming from Sibi to Quetta collided with a bus coming from the opposite direction. All those who died in the accident were travelling in the van. After receiving information about the accident, police, Levies and Frontier Corps personnel rushed to the area and shifted the injured to the Quetta Civil Hospital.…

‘This isn’t about accountability, it is about revenge,’ Maryam Nawaz on NAB references

October 8, 2017October 8, 2017 News Desk

Ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz on Sunday said that the graft cases against her family have nothing to do with accountability. Speaking to reporters in London before her departure to Pakistan, she said, “It has been exposed now and the whole world knows that this is not accountability; rather, it has turned into revenge now.” “I do not need to say anything here, the way things have been going on in the past year and a half has revealed the truth to the nation,” said Maryam who is expected…

After army chief’s visit, Afghan president considers trip to Pakistan

October 7, 2017 News Desk

Afghan news agency Khaama Press reported Saturday that Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani is considering a visit to Pakistanin the near future after being extended an invitation by Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa during his recent visit to the country. Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Omar Zakhilwal had told news outlets that Ghani had been invited to Pakistan during a meeting with Gen Bajwa in Kabul last week. Amb Zakhilwal further added that President Ghani has accepted the invitation by the Pakistani military chief, Khaama said. However, the agency said it was not yet clear when the visit…