Category: 1. Pakistan

Pakistan and China on Thursday agreed to further enhance ties and joint broadcasting projects between their state broadcasters to tackle fake news and disinformation, Radio Pakistan reported.

Pakistan and China share a longstanding strategic partnership rooted in mutual trust, economic cooperation, and regional connectivity. Over the decades, ties have expanded across different sectors, including trade, energy, infrastructure, and media collaboration, with initiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) symbolising a shared vision for development.

The government, as well as the military, have previously warned about “fake news and propaganda” proliferating on social media, with Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry saying that not enough was being done against “digital terrorism” under the law.

The decision was made during a meeting in Beijing between Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Cao Shumin, Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Minister and Party Secretary of the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA).

“Both leaders also agreed on a joint narrative against fake news and emphasised technical training and institutional collaboration,” the report said. “They described the ongoing partnership in the media as a reflection of mutual trust and longstanding friendship.”

The report added that the two sides also held talks related to a proposed agreement between China Central Television (CCTV) and PTV to promote the exchange of information and cooperation.

Tarar said Pakistan was ready to translate bilateral media cooperation into practical steps and that state-run media entities — PTV, Radio Pakistan and Associated Press of Pakistan — were playing a crucial role in communicating stories of China’s development, the Belt and Road Initiative, CPEC, cultural ties, and bilateral cooperation to the people of both countries.

Per the report, Tarar said PTV was building intellectual and cultural bridges between the two nations by broadcasting Chinese programmes, documentaries and news reports in Urdu.

He said APP’s “China News Service” had crossed a significant milestone in effectively conveying Pakistan’s narrative to Chinese readers.

Referring to the recent Pakistan-India tensions, the information minister noted that the youth of China and Pakistan expressed strong solidarity with each other, which went viral on social media.

The meeting also discussed exchange visits of digital influencers from both Pakistan and China. Tarar said in the digital age, exchanges between influencers and social media representatives of both countries can inject new energy into bilateral relations.

Shumin said China considered Pakistan a trustworthy partner. “Media organisations of Pakistan and China can come closer through the exchange of experiences,” she was quoted as saying in the report.

Both sides agreed that media, culture, and people-to-people relations can introduce new dimensions to the Pakistan-China friendship, and these efforts will be further strengthened under a joint strategy.

In February, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong said: “We are ready to expand cooperation with Pakistan in education, media, think tanks, youth exchanges, and the film and television industries, to foster mutual learning between civilisations and strengthen cultural and people-to-people ties.”

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday rebutted rumours of President Asif Ali Zardari being asked to resign, terming it a “malicious campaign”.

“We are fully aware of who is behind the malicious campaign targeting President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and the chief of army staff,” Naqvi wrote on X.

“I have categorically stated that there has been no discussion, nor does any such idea exist about the president being asked to resign or the COAS aspiring to assume the presidency,” he asserted.

“The president of Pakistan enjoys a strong and respectful relationship with the leadership of the armed forces,” the minister said.

He quoted President Zardari as having “clearly” stated: “I know who is spreading these falsehoods, why they are doing so, and who stands to benefit from this propaganda.”

Naqvi stressed that the “sole focus” of Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir was Pakistan’s strength and stability, and “nothing else”.

“To those involved in this narrative, do whatever you wish in collaboration with hostile foreign agencies. As for us, we will do whatever is necessary to make Pakistan strong again, InshAllah,” Naqvi added.

Earlier today, PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui also denied reports of Zardari’s resignation.

Speaking on Geo News’ programme “Geo Pakistan”, he said: “Reports that Zardari is resigning, Imran’s sons are coming, Nawaz Sharif is going to Adiala … these are not news. They are bogus, table stories.”

He further said, “Zardari has not created any difficulties for the government, and understands his constitutional responsibilities as head of state”.

The PML-N leader said his party had “no trouble” working with the president, who leads the PPP, and there was no credible reason to remove him from office.

“We have a coalition with the PPP. Why would we bring down this system?” he questioned.

Over the past couple of years, social media campaigns against the army have escalated, reflecting broader tensions within the country’s political and social fabric.

The government, as well as the military, have repeatedly warned about “fake news and propaganda” proliferating on social media, with military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry saying that not enough was being done against “digital terrorism” under the laws.

In May, President Zardari and PM Shehbaz formally decorated Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Syed Asim Munir with the rank of field marshal for his “sagacious leadership and exceptional strategy” during the recent conflict with India.

In a subsequent dinner hosted by the army chief, Field Marshal Munir lauded the political leadership for their “strategic foresight” during Marka-i-Haq against India.

The next month, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who belongs to PM Shehbaz’s PML-N, hailed the “existing hybrid model of governance” in the country. In a separate interview, he also termed it as a “practical necessity” for Pakistan, saying the system was “doing wonders”.

In May 2024, the army chief and President Zardari had expressed their concern over “baseless and unsubstantiated allegations levelled by a specific political party and its few individuals” against the army for their political interests.

• Last messages from actor’s phone records are from Oct 2024: DIG.
• Waiting for post-mortem report for further investigation, says Raza.
• Body shifted to morgue, family to receive mortal remains today.

KARACHI: In the latest development related to the mystery surrounding actor Humaira Asghar’s death, Sindh Police’s Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Asad Raza has said that the model’s body is probably six months old.

“The expiry date of food and drinks found in the flat is 2024. The last messages in the actor’s phone records are also from October 2024,” DIG Raza said.

Asghar was found dead in a flat — where she was living alone for seven years — in Defence Phase 6’s Ittehad Commercial area on Tuesday when a court-appointed bailiff arrived to execute the eviction order in relation to a case filed by the flat’s owner over unpaid rent.

A day earlier, police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said that the cause of actor’s death remains unknown as her body, which was discovered in her flat, was in an “advanced stage of decomposition”.

The police surgeon highlighted that while an initial post-mortem examination has been conducted, it would be premature to say anything about the cause of death as the advanced state of decomposition has rendered the body incapable of revealing the cause of death at this stage.

She further revealed that DNA and chemical samples have been collected, and facts will be revealed after the examination of the samples.

Meanwhile, expanding on the matter, the DIG South revealed that the last message in the actor’s mobile phone was from an online taxi driver and that actor’s apartment electricity was also disconnected for a long time.

“The actress’s last contact with the owner of the flat was also in 2024,” Raza said.

Noting that they were waiting for the post-mortem report for further investigation, which may take a couple of days, the police official said that the body has been shifted to the morgue after the completion of due legal formalities, and the actor’s family would receive the body today.

The DIG’s remarks somewhat echo the comments of stylist Danish Maqsood, who while speaking to Geo Digital, revealed that he had sent Asghar a message on October 20, which has been left unread and also her WhatsApp’s “last seen” showed October 7.

Earlier, the police had said that Humaira’s father had declined to accept her body following the completion of a postmortem examination.

Provincial Minister Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah has directed the Sindh Department of Culture to manage the burial of Humaira Asghar if the family fails to do so. A letter was sent to the DIG East requesting the handover of the body.

Shah confirmed the department would act as legal guardian and oversee all arrangements, including burial and cemetery protocols.

Severe rainstorms accompanied by strong winds wreaked havoc across Punjab in the past 24 hours, claiming at least three lives and injuring 22 others in rain-related incidents.

The intense weather also exposed major flaws in urban infrastructure, particularly in Lahore, where heavy rainfall led to flooding, power outages, and public distress.

In Sheikhupura’s Mirza Virkan area, the collapse of a roof tragically killed two children — 2-year-old Arham and 5-year-old Haram — while two others were injured. In Vehari, roof collapses were reported in several localities including 23WB, Muslim Town Stop, 19WB, and 57WB, resulting in four injuries. One person was also hurt in Chak No. 59WB after solar panels fell during the storm.

Bhakkar’s Mankera area witnessed a wall collapse on Link Road near Hyderabad City, injuring one individual. In Dera Ghazi Khan’s PEG City, three people sustained injuries after a roof caved in.

In Attock, six family members were trapped inside their flooded home near Babu Chowk, Chungi No. 07. Rescue teams responded promptly, providing first aid and relocating the family to safety.

Lahore also saw a number of dangerous incidents. A child in the Kashmiri Gate area died from electrocution after touching an electric pole. In Harbanspura, a motorcyclist was injured due to a slippery road. Similar accidents occurred in Ali Raza Abad and Wahdat Colony, injuring two more individuals. Another person was hurt in a roof collapse on Aashiana Road, while a slip near New Ravi Bridge also left one injured.

Authorities have issued warnings advising residents to stay indoors during extreme weather and avoid flood-prone areas, as more rain and thunderstorms are forecast in the coming days.

According to WASA’s Monsoon Control Room, Lahore recorded an average rainfall of 58.8mm, with Nishtar Town receiving the highest at 84mm, followed by Lakshmi Chowk (78mm) and Paniwala Talab (74mm). The first spell of rain hit the city from 2:45am to 5:40am, followed by a heavier spell between 10:45am and 12:11pm.

The downpour crippled Lahore’s drainage system, leading to waterlogging in major areas including Jail Road (63mm), Qurtaba Chowk (68mm), and even the WASA Head Office in Gulberg (69mm). Overflowing sewage mixed with rainwater created serious public health concerns and disrupted movement across the city.

Despite claims from the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) that over 6,000 waste containers had been cleared, residents reported little to no improvement. “The main roads are still submerged, and no one from the administration is here to help,” said Asif Mahmood, a shopkeeper at Lakshmi Chowk.

Low-lying areas such as Farrukhabad (49mm) and Johar Town (39mm) also remained submerged, highlighting poor drainage infrastructure.

The effects of the monsoon extended beyond Lahore, with several districts across Punjab also receiving significant rainfall: Khanewal (51mm), Rawalpindi (42mm), Sahiwal (44mm), Murree (41mm), Okara (30mm), Mandi Bahauddin (27mm), Mangla (24mm), and Toba Tek Singh (13mm). Other rain-hit regions included Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, Gujrat, Kasur, Bahawalnagar, Sargodha, Multan, and Jhang.

While the rains disrupted daily life and caused tragic accidents, they also brought a temporary drop in temperature. In Lahore, intermittent showers with lightning and strong winds provided a welcome relief from recent mugginess — though at a significant cost to public safety and urban resilience.

Heavy monsoon downpours lashed Lahore, its outskirts, and various parts of Punjab over the past 24 hours, flooding low-lying areas and throwing life out of gear. The rain not only inundated roads and residential areas but also exposed the inefficiencies in the city’s drainage and power infrastructure.

According to the Water and Sanitation Agency’s (WASA) Monsoon Control Room, Lahore received an average of 58.8mm of rain. The highest rainfall was recorded in Nishtar Town at 84mm, followed by Lakshmi Chowk (78mm) and Paniwala Talab (74mm). The first spell struck from 2:45am to 5:40am, while a more intense second spell occurred between 10:45am and 12:11pm.

The rainfall quickly overwhelmed the city’s drainage system. Key localities such as Jail Road (63mm), Qurtaba Chowk (68mm), and WASA’s own Head Office in Gulberg (69mm) experienced severe water accumulation. Rainwater mixed with sewage, triggering health concerns as residents struggled through flooded streets.

The heavy rain also caused widespread power outages. As soon as the downpour began, multiple Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) feeders tripped, cutting electricity to large parts of the city. The incident exposed the fragility of the city’s power supply system. In a tragic incident, a child was electrocuted by exposed wiring in the Yakki Gate area.

“We’ve been without electricity since morning, and the stagnant water has made it impossible to leave our homes,” said Rukhsana Bibi, a resident of Mughalpura, which received 60mm of rain.

Residents in Barki Road and other peripheral areas voiced frustration over delayed response from WASA and the district administration. Many accused authorities of prioritising drainage efforts in upscale neighbourhoods, leaving less privileged areas to fend for themselves.

Despite claims by the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) of deploying cleanup teams and clearing over 6,000 waste containers, citizens reported negligible improvements. “The main roads are still underwater, and no one from the administration has shown up,” said Asif Mahmood, a shopkeeper at Lakshmi Chowk.

In low-lying areas like Farrukhabad (49mm) and Johar Town (39mm), residents endured severe waterlogging due to poor drainage infrastructure.

Elsewhere in Punjab, several districts experienced similar weather conditions. Khanewal recorded 51mm, Rawalpindi 42mm, Sahiwal 44mm, Murree 41mm, Okara 30mm, Mandi Bahauddin 27mm, Mangla 24mm, and Toba Tek Singh 13mm. Rain was also reported in Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, Gujrat, Kasur, Bahawalnagar, Sargodha, Multan, and Jhang.

Despite the chaos, the intermittent showers, accompanied by strong winds and lightning, brought temporary relief from the oppressive humidity, offering Lahoris a momentary respite in an otherwise disrupted day.