Pakistan and Bangladesh vowed to spur efforts to increase bilateral trade, investment and connectivity after the first visit by Pakistan’s chief diplomat in 13 years.
The two South Asian nations, which separated more than half a century ago after a deadly civil war, lifted the visa restrictions for their diplomats and government officials, while Pakistan offered 500 scholarships to Bangladeshi students in the next five years, according to a statement by the foreign ministry in Islamabad.
FAISALABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Monday handed prison sentences of up to 10 years each to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul and others over their involvement in attack on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah’s residence during the May 9 riots in 2023.
The court, while announcing its verdict in a case registered at the Samanabad Police Station, sentenced a total of 75 people out of the total 109 accused and acquitted 34 others.
Out of those sentenced, 59 were given 10-year imprisonment including Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, Rai Murtaza Iqbal, Farah Afgha, Kanwal Shauzab, Rai Hassan Nawaz, Ahmad Chattha, Ansar Iqbal, Bilal Ijaz, Ashraf Sohna, Mehr Javed, Shakeel Niazi and others.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Rashid Javed and other PTI workers were given a three-year prison sentence.
The development adds to the mounting legal woes faced by the Imran Khan-founded PTI, which has seen scores of leaders getting prison sentences over the May 9 riots while several others, including the former prime minister, remain behind bars in a plethora of cases.
Earlier this month, an ATC in Lahore sentenced PTI’s Dr Yasmin Rashid, Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed, former Punjab governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, and several others to 10 years in prison.
Also, the court, in the Jinnah House case, sentenced Rashid, Cheema, Chaudhry, Rasheed, Ayesha Ali Bhutta, Muhammad Fahim, Niaz Ahmed, Ali Hasan, Zain Ali, Asad Ali, Bilal Wajahat, Bilal Bashir, Muhammad Qasim, and Zain ul Hassan to 10 years each in prison.
However, the ATC exonerated Shah Mahmood Qureshi Sohail Khan, Muhammad Owais, Rafiuddin, Farid Khan, Salman Ahmed, Abdul Qadir, Faizan, Tayyab Sultan, Shahid Baig and Majid Ali.
Last week, PTI founder’s nephews Shershah and Shahrez — sons of Aleema Khan — were arrested over their alleged involvement in the May 9 riots.
Thousands of supporters of Imran Khan stormed public property and military installations, including the Corps Commander House in Lahore, on May 9, 2023, in protest against the former premier’s arrest.
The riots erupted after the PTI founder was taken into custody from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a graft case.
During the unrest, the supporters of Khan — the only prime minister in Pakistan’s history to be ousted via a no-confidence vote — targeted civil and military installations, including the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
Several PTI leaders and workers were released on bail after their arrests, while many remain behind bars.
An anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad on Monday sentenced several PTI leaders, including Omar Ayub, to 10 years in prison each in connection with the May 9 attack on the residence of Rana Sanaullah.
The ATC, however, acquitted former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry and Zain Qureshi, son of PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi, due to a lack of evidence.
Apart from Omar Ayub, PTI leaders including Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul and Ismail Sela were also sentenced to 10 years in prison each.
The case related to the violent protests that erupted on May 9, during which a group of PTI supporters allegedly attacked the house of PML-N leader and former interior minister Rana Sanaullah.
The ATC convicted 75 out of 109 accused, while 34 were acquitted, including former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry and Zain Qureshi, son of senior PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
According to the ruling, 59 individuals have been sentenced to 10 years in prison, while 16 others, including Sheikh Rashid Javed and several PTI workers, have received three-year jail terms.
The ATC acquitted 34 others in the case. All accused have been sentenced in absentia.
The case involved the central PTI leadership and 88 party workers among the 109 accused.
An FIR for the incident had been filed at Samanabad Police Station.
This verdict marks the fourth in a series of May 9-related cases. Three earlier verdicts have already been delivered by courts.
Due to convictions in those prior cases, Shibli Faraz has been disqualified from the Senate, and Omar Ayub from the National Assembly.
Pakistan Railways has suspended train operations between Quetta and Peshawar for two days due to ongoing flood conditions.
According to sources, Jaffar Express will not depart from Quetta to Peshawar on August 25 and 26 as a precautionary measure. However, the Chaman Passenger train has departed from Quetta as scheduled.
To enhance the safety and efficiency, Pakistan Railways is implementing a large-scale programme to digitise and automate its network.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast heavy rainfall in most parts of the country, including Punjab, starting today (Monday), warning of increased risks of urban flooding and landslides.
Authorities have issued alerts to all relevant departments in light of the forecast.
According to the PMD, flash flooding is likely in rivers and streams across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa districts of Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan, Mansehra and Abbottabad, as well as Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi and Mardan.
Low-lying areas of Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, northeast Punjab, Kashmir and Dera Ghazi Khan are at risk of inundation.
Landslides in the mountainous areas of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could disrupt road traffic, it added.
Urban centres like Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Sialkot, Peshawar and Nowshera may experience accumulation of water in low-lying areas due to intense rain.
The PMD warned that heavy rain is expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Potohar region and some districts of northeast Punjab.
Rain is also forecast for southeastern Sindh, while hot and humid weather is expected to persist in other parts of the country.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a high alert warning of torrential rains, urban flooding, and riverine floods across various districts of the province over the next 48 hours.
According to a PDMA spokesperson, intense monsoon activity in the upper catchments of rivers is expected to trigger urban flooding in Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Gujranwala divisions, while high to very high floods are feared in the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers.
The authority also cautioned of possible flash flooding in the northern and north-eastern districts of Punjab.
Director General PDMA instructed divisional and district administrations to remain on high alert and deploy rescue teams in advance at sensitive points. He further directed that citizens be informed promptly in case of torrential downpours and that all precautionary and protective arrangements be finalised without delay.
PDMA Punjab has issued alerts to all commissioners and deputy commissioners across the province, emphasising proactive measures to minimise potential damage.
Karachi residents faced disruptions in their daily commute on Monday morning due to traffic jams caused by repair work on tattered and flooded roads in the aftermath of last week’s heavy rains.
Torrential rains on August 19 had flooded neighbourhoods, severely strained Karachi’s fragile infrastructure, left people stranded on roads for hours, disrupted industrial operations and led to prolonged power outages.
Thoroughfares are still riddled with potholes, exposing the devastation of Karachi’s road network and posing serious dangers to commuters across the metropolis.
Subsequently, as Karachiites left their homes for offices and schools this morning, they faced hurdles caused by accumulated rainwater and “development work” being carried out to repair the ruined roads, as reported by the traffic police.
Areas in the Malir, East and Korangi districts were affected, with locations including the busy thoroughfares of Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road near Shaheen Complex and M.M. Alam Road.
More to follow