Category: Pakistan

KARACHI: The New Gwadar International Airport is set to be inaugurated on December 30, sources told Geo News, marking a significant milestone in the region’s infrastructure development. The decision was taken on the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the sources said. The national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), will operate the airport’s first commercial flight, marking a significant milestone in regional connectivity. Final preparations are underway, with a recent five-hour meeting between PIA and the Airports Authority finalising key operational matters. The sources revealed that PIA will deploy staff and…

SHANGLA: Terrorists carried out a grenade attack on a police checkpoint in Chakesar, District Shangla, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulting in the martyrdom of two policemen and injuries to three others, Geo News reported on Tuesday. According to the police, martyred cops were identifies as assistant sub-inspector Hassan Khan and constable Nisar Khan, while, Muharrar Arshad Khan, Constable Arshad Khan, and Constable Rifat are wounded. The injured cops have been transferred to a hospital in Battagram for treatment, the police added. Terrorist attacks have been rampant in the provinces of KP and Balochistan, targetting…

Even after passage of 10 years, the horror of the Army Public School (APS) Peshawar terrorist attack is still ingrained in the memory of survivors and the relatives of the dead. Six terrorists assaulted the APS on December 16, 2014, killing about 150 innocent students and teachers. The first-hand witnesses and their families are still suffering from the fear of that atrocity. Some have used it as motivation to work harder in life, while others are still having trouble recovering fully from it. The story of Ahmed Khattak, who survived…

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has slammed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for having a history of violent tactics as he strongly criticised Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s warning of taking to streets with arms. “Armed protests involving illegal Afghan immigrants are a hallmark of PTI,” the minister said, adding that the PTI had marched on the federal capital with armed groups previously as well.  The minister’s condemnation comes hours after the firebrand KP CM called on PTI founder Imran Khan to cease advocating for peace, while warning the…

A special chartered flight carrying 318 Pakistanis stranded in Syria, that departed from Beirut, Lebanon earlier today, has arrived in Pakistan on Thursday. Upon their arrival in Pakistan, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal, along with representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), welcomed the returning Pakistani citizens. Speaking to the passengers at the airport, Ahsan said that Lebanon had issued visas to them at PM Shehbaz’s request. He thanked the Lebanese Prime…

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Faiz Hamid are “partners in crime”, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif alleged on Tuesday. Asif — whose party leadership has time again accused the former spy master of being involved in their previous government’s downfall — said: [Faiz’s] personal benefits aside, his and PTI founder’s interests had converged”. His remarks came in the backdrop of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announcement revealing that Faiz was formally charged with multiple offences, including engaging in political activities and violating the Official…

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Thursday emerged victorious in a by-election held in Punjab Assembly seat PP-139 in Sheikhupura, according to unofficial results compiled.   The seat had fallen vacant following the death of PML-N-backed MPA Rana Afzal Hussain, who had won the seat in a previous by-election after Rana Tanveer Hussain vacated it. Rana Tahir secured 44,537 votes against Ijaz Hussain’s 20,133, the unofficial result shows. There were a total of 124 polling stations in the provincial constituency. Following the victory, the PML-N workers started celebrations at the…

People in Lahore were jolted by earthquake tremors, which were also felt across other parts of Punjab on Thursday. The tremors — which prompted residents to rush out of their homes and buildings in panic — were felt in areas including Jhelum, Kamalia, and their surroundings.  No immediate reports of casualties or significant damage have been received so far. Seismological details about the magnitude and epicentre of the quake are awaited from relevant authorities.

Adviser to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan has claimed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will not be able to stage another protest in Islamabad any time soon, adding that the party will possibly never be able to do so. The adviser’s remarks came hours after the former ruling party extended an olive branch, as party’s chairman Gohar Ali Khan said that the PTI is ready to hold talks with all political parties.  The Imran Khan-led party and coalition government have been trading blames for the violence during the…

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman has expressed his interest in visiting Pakistan during his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is on a two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia to attend the ‘One Water Summit’.   Both leaders agreed to bring about a qualitative change in the economic, trade and investment relationship between the two countries. The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the pace of progress in the implementation of Saudi MoUs and agreements regarding investment in Pakistan. PM Shehbaz thanked the Crown Prince for his most genuine affection…