An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore on Thursday handed over Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s nephew, Shahrez Khan, to police for eight days physical remand in connection with a May 9 riots case, more than two years after his name surfaced in the investigation.
Shahrez was arrested on the evening of August 21 from his residence, According to PTI leaders, the arrest occurred late on Wednesday night when a group of unidentified individuals entered Aleema Khan’s home by force. Party officials claimed that household staff were assaulted, family members harassed, and Shahrez taken from his bedroom in front of his children.
Police later implicated him in the Jinnah House attack case through two supplementary statements filed on September 23, 2023. He was produced before ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gill, where police sought a 30-day physical remand for further investigation and recovery of material allegedly in his possession.
The defence, led by senior lawyer Salman Akram Raja, strongly contested the request, terming Shahrez’s arrest after 27 months “ridiculous”. Raja argued that the accused had no political involvement and was being “roped in without evidence”. He told the court that Shahrez had been in Chitral between May 6 and 13, 2023, and pointed out that Aleema—Shahrez’s mother—had already been discharged from the same case.
Raja further argued that “such an extensive delay in arresting someone reflects mala fide intent”.
Read More: Imran’s nephew ‘picked up’ in Lahore raid: PTI
During proceedings, the ATC judge inquired from the investigating officer about Shahrez’s alleged role.
The police acknowledged that the accused was not wanted in any other May 9-related case but the prosecution maintained that his name appeared in multiple records.
Defence lawyers maintained that Shahrez was an athlete and he was being unnecessarily implicated. This would “send a bad message internationally,” contended the lawyers.
The PTI insists that he had no involvement in political activities and was being targeted solely because of his family ties.
The party has accused the government of systematically targeting Imran’s relatives and supporters in an effort to further dismantle PTI’s political base.
The Sindh government has approved the recruitment of 2,000 Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) in the police investigation wing in a move aimed at strengthening law enforcement and improving the justice system.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, attended by IG Sindh, the Additional Chief Secretary for Home, the Secretary Services, and other senior officials.
Chief Secretary Shah emphasized that boosting the police’s investigative capacity would build public trust and ensure more effective law enforcement. “This is a key step toward improving the investigative capabilities of the police force,” he said, adding that a strong investigation system is crucial for swift justice and crime reduction.
The chief secretary also directed officials to remove any obstacles in the recruitment process to ensure timely induction.
Speaking at the meeting, IG Sindh welcomed the decision, noting that the addition of ASIs would enhance the quality of investigations, enabling timely justice and stronger action against criminal elements.
The move comes as Sindh Police’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) recently issued a new edition of its “Grey Book,” featuring profiles of 81 highly wanted suspects involved in cases of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping for ransom, police encounters, and armed robberies. The updated Grey Book is set to be distributed across law enforcement agencies to assist in identifying and apprehending dangerous criminals in the province.
ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday inaugurated the first-ever Business Facilita-tion Centre (BFC) here with a vision to promote ease of doing business and attract in-vestment in Pakistan by providing a one-stop solution to investors and entrepreneurs.
Established by the Board of Investment, the BFC will facilitate the business community by providing a wide range of services, including guidance on regulatory requirements and facilitating business registration, licensing, and permits.
It will serve as a one-stop service, reducing hurdles and facilitating efficient interaction be-tween businesses and government entities.
The prime minister, who was briefed on the center’s functioning, including the investors’ guidance, application for special economic zones, licensing and payments procedures with drastically reduced timelines, also unveiled the plaque of the project, vowing to repli-cate it across the country if it fulfills the desired objectives.
He thanked the Minister for Board of Investment Qiaser Ahmed Sheikh, Secretary BOI, and their team for establishing the country’s first-ever facilitation center and particularly for recruiting a highly talented and competent workforce who were engaged in dealing with customers as the prime minister spoke to the gathering.
The prime minister urged all the relevant departments to efficiently run the center to make it a success by facilitating and guiding the investors or people from other sectors, just like other countries.
“Otherwise, this will be nothing more than brick and mortar. That is not my vision… We should welcome customers with a smiling face combined with genuine support without any delay, not even for a second,” he advised.
Prime Minister Shehbaz called for making the facilitation center attractive and popular in other countries and establishing it as a model, paving the way for its replication in other parts of the country.
In his remarks, BOI Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh called the establishment of the center a breakthrough in investment facilitation.
He said that earlier, the investors had to visit various departments to accomplish the re-quired procedures for setting up their businesses; however, the BFC will reduce this has-sle, besides remarkably reducing the timelines.
Prime Minister Shehbaz, who also visited different desks of the facilitation center, was told that the investors would be able to submit their applications for setting up special econom-ic zones or other projects at the center, by answering different queries such as the nature of the business, loan and equity structure, target market, export potential, expected em-ployment generation, and utility requirements.
The system will reflect all attached documents as well as an activity log, besides enabling the applicant to track their application, who will also be timely informed about any short-comings on their part. Federal Ministers Attaullah Tarar, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Ahad Cheema and Dr Musadik Malik, and senior government officers also attended the event.
Also, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday reached out to the leaders of different political parties and assured them of the cooperation and support of the federal govern-ment and its institutions to handle the situation caused by the heavy monsoon rains and consequent floods. The prime minister telephoned Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bi-lawal Bhutto Zardari and expressed grief over the loss of lives caused by the torrential rains and urban flooding in Southern Sindh, particularly Karachi. He offered full support from the federal government to assist the Sindh government in addressing the emergency situation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz directed the National Disaster Management Authority Chairman to stay in close coordination with the Sindh government, provide all possible assistance to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, and ensure the early warnings to the peo-ple about potential risks.
The prime minister also spoke with Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman and Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.
Discussing with the Jamaat-e-Islami chief the damages caused by recent rains in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and ongoing relief activities, Prime Minister Shehbaz appreciated Al-Khidmat Foundation’s proactive role in rescue and relief operations.
He also discussed with Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui the recent rains and flood situation in Sindh, as well as potential risks from expected rainfall, assuring full cooperation from NDMA and other federal institutions to address any emergency situation.
At least 200 people were rescued after a glacier burst in Gilgit-Baltistan blocked the Ghizer River, threatening the downstream areas, Rescue 1122 said on Friday.
A glacial burst, or glacial lake outburst flood (Glof), refers to an outburst of water from a glacial lake which could lead to severe flooding downstream, effectively blocking or overwhelming rivers in its path. Pakistan is home to over 13,032 glaciers, the largest reservoir of glaciers outside of the polar regions. However, experts have warned that about 10,000 glaciers in Chitral and GB have been reported to be receding due to climate change–induced temperature rise.
A statement from Rescue 1122 said, “200 people have been rescued from flood-affected areas and have been shifted to Ghizer’s Yangal and Samal areas.”
“Several people have been traumatised after [their] houses were destroyed. Medical assistance is being provided to the affected people,” it added.
In another statement issued earlier today, Rescue 1122 said, “A terrible incident of glacier outburst has taken place at Tildas and Rawshan villages in Gupis valley late at night, causing widespread destruction in the downstream.”
“The Ghizer River has been completely blocked for several hours, which has increased the risks for downstream areas with a possibility of high-level flooding in the river,” it added.
The statement said that the rescue personnel had been kept on alert on the orders of the Rescue 1122 director general and the Rescue 1122 District Emergency Officer Engineer Tahir Shah. Rescue 1122 also urged people living near the river to take timely precautionary measures and move to safe places.
GB Secretary Fida Hussain said that no casualties were reported and all the affected people were safe.
“The flood swept away everything in the downstream areas in Talidas and Rawshan villages,” he said, adding that 40 people, who were stranded, had been rescued.
He added that local volunteers were the first to rescue people from the floodwaters, after which Pakistan Army helicopters joined the operation.
“The high temperature caused a burst of the lake, and ultimately high flooding occurred in the Sado nullah on Wednesday night.
“Some shepherds informed the local community about the flood. People in dangerous areas were immediately shifted to other areas,” he said.
According to the locals, 80 per cent of the village has been washed away. A local named Abdul Wahid said, “Some shepherds, who were living near the glacier, had informed people living in the downstream areas through mobile communication about the flood and urged them to evacuate.”
The local administration said that the Ghizer River, after remaining blocked for eight hours, started spilling over the flood debris.
GB government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq said that a rescue operation was initiated to evacuate the stranded people in the areas. He said, “The flow of the Ghizer River has remained blocked for many hours, but it poses a threat to low-lying areas if it bursts.”
Ghulam Muhammad, GB Minister for Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Tourism, said, “The flood, which occurred due to the bursting of the lake, completely destroyed 70 houses, while the river water is standing due to the flood debris, but the level is rising.”
He said that if the flow of the river water is not restored, hundreds of large houses will be submerged in the water. “The process of flooding in the drain due to the bursting of the lake has been ongoing since 10pm.”
Muhammad further said that the river spread three to four kilometres in length due to the standing water.
“Some people are still trapped, for whom an army helicopter has been sent to rescue them. Hopefully, the trapped people will also be rescued,” he added.
Rescue 1122 personnel carry out a rescue operation after a glacier burst in Gilgit-Baltistan blocked the Ghizer River, Aug 22. — Rescue 1122
GB Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan issued orders to the GB home secretary and GB Disaster Management Authority director general to immediately rescue the people trapped in the flood.
The CM said, “All available resources will be utilised to rescue the precious human lives and help will be sought from the Pakistan Army.”
He also directed the Gilgit and Ghizer police officials and the concerned departments to ensure safety measures in the settlements adjacent to the river.
Special Assistant to CM on Information Eman Shah said that authorities have started initial relief and rescue activities. “Steps are being taken to shift people from Ghizer River downstream areas to safer places in fear of the temporary lake formed in Ghizer bursting,” he said.
Earlier this month, a Glof from the Shishper Glacier tore through Hassanabad Nullah, sweeping away part of the Karakoram Highway and destroying public and private properties.
A glacier burst in Bagrot Valley caused the death of one person on Aug 1, while his father was injured, according to the regional government’s spokesperson.
Months after Pakistan used a Chinese-made ultra-long-range missile to shoot down Indian fighters, US Air Force and Navy funding requests show they may soon get their own advanced weapon after eight years of development: the Lockheed Martin Corp. AIM-260.
The service branches have asked for nearly $1 billion for the 2026 fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1, to begin producing the classified system, according to budget documents and a service statement.
An explosion at a fireworks warehouse in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi on Thursday killed at least four people and injured more than 30 others, according to local police.
The blast triggered a fire that engulfed the warehouse and several nearby shops and damaged vehicles in an area known as Jinnah Road.
The force of the explosion shattered windows in surrounding buildings, sending shards of glass flying into the streets and pedestrians running for safety, according to witnesses.
What caused the blast?
Authorities have yet to determine the official cause of the initial explosion.
A Karachi police spokesperson told Germany’s DPA news agency that raw materials used to manufacture fireworks were illegally stored at the accident site. Two owners of the warehouse have been arrested, according to police.
It is unclear what caused the explosionImage: Sabir Mazhar/Anadolu Agency/IMAGO
“More than 50 kilograms of raw material could have been stored in the basement. This is used to manufacture fireworks, but also bombs,” another spokesperson for Karachi’s anti-terror unit said.
The blast Thursday is similar to an explosion in January at a fireworks storage site in the eastern Punjab province that killed 6 people.
As Pakistan’s financial capital and home to over 20 million residents, Karachi frequently grapples with infrastructure challenges and safety concerns.
A collage shows scenes of glacial lake outburst in Gilgit Baltistan’s (GB) Ghizer district on August 22, 2025. — X@GBTourism_/Instagram
Landslides block Gilgit–Shandur Road, cut off Raushan village.
Ghizer River blocked since 3am, communities at risk of submersion.
Met Office forecasts heavy rains in GB from tomorrow.
GILGIT: A glacial lake outburst in Gilgit Baltistan’s (GB) Ghizer district has once again unleashed flooding and caused widespread destruction, leading to the creation of artificial lake, officials said on Friday.
GB government spokesperson Faizullah Firaq confirmed that the glacier burst at Tali Das in the Gupis area of Ghizer triggered flooding and destruction.
He said that multiple villages were submerged, causing severe financial losses. However, no loss of human life has been reported yet.
According to the district administration, landslides have completely blocked the Gilgit–Shandur Road. Landslides occurred from two directions in the Tali Das stream, cutting off the Raushan village.
Ghizer’s additional deputy commissioner reported that a landslide in Raushan, Tali Das, had completely blocked the flow of the Ghizer River since 3am, with more communities being affected by the floodwater.
However, timely warnings to residents ensured that no lives were lost.
In a statement, rescue incharge Raja Ajmal said as many as 200 affected people had been shifted to Sumal and Yangal areas.
He said rescue operation was underway to pull out six people from Rawshan drain.
The rescue incharge said water has started flowing after six hours-long blockage of Ghizer River, reducing the flooding risk for low-lying areas.
GB Home Minister Shams Lone said that although the flood had caused devastation in Ghizer once again, no loss of life had been reported so far. He added that reports had emerged of some people being stranded, for which helicopters had been requested.
A Force Command Northern Areas commander has already dispatched a helicopter on an emergency basis for rescue efforts.
Meanwhile, the government spokesperson said that over 50 people have been rescued so far. He said the glacier outburst has blocked the river flow in the region, causing water to back up and form a large lake, putting nearby settlements at risk of submergence.
He also confirmed that the GB chief minister was personally monitoring the situation.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has predicted fresh spell of rain in parts of country from tomorrow (Saturday).
The recent calamity comes as Gilgit Baltistan continues to struggle with the aftermath of earlier flash floods that have battered the region since July. Thousands remain without clean water, power and road access, while repeated disasters have swept away houses, destroyed agricultural land and displaced families.
Overall losses in the mountainous region are estimated at around Rs30 billion with at least 39 people, including tourists were killed in rain-triggered incidents.
According to the Met Office, GB is likely to receive rain, wind and thundershowers from August 23 to 27, with isolated heavy falls expected in Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar.
The Met Office has warned that landslides and mudslides may disrupt roads in vulnerable hilly areas during this period, advising authorities and residents to remain on high alert.
A special ceremony was organized by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi/Islamabad at NAB headquarters, Islamabad, on Thursday to distribute cheques of recovered funds to the victims of the B4U fraud.
The B4U fraud is one of Pakistan’s largest financial scams, operated as an online Ponzi scheme through shell companies by Saif-ur-Rehman and his associates. Billions of rupees were collected from the public with the promise of a 7% monthly return.
NAB initiated an inquiry into the matter on February 5, 2021, after receiving hundreds of complaints from victims and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). During the investigation, NAB traced and froze 56 bank accounts, properties, and other assets belonging to the accused. Online data was also downloaded and used to verify victims’ claims.
As a result of NAB’s persistent efforts and legal action, a recovery process for Rs. 7.3 billion was initiated. In the initial phase, Rs. 3.7 billion is being distributed among 17,500 affectees. Of these, 10,000 victims will receive their full amount, while the remaining 7,500 will receive 40% of their amount now, with the remaining 60% to be paid within six months after the disposal of the accused’s properties.
Addressing the ceremony, Chairman NAB reiterated the bureau’s priorities, which include focusing on cases affecting the public at large, recovering 100% of the looted amount from the accused, and returning it to the victims in the shortest possible time.
He also urged the public to exercise caution when investing their hard-earned money in various schemes and to conduct thorough inquiries before making investments.
The Chairman appreciated the efforts and hard work of the NAB Rawalpindi/Islamabad team, whose dedication made the recoveries and disbursement of funds possible despite various challenges in the B4U scam. As a token of appreciation, he announced an Umrah package as an incentive for the entire NAB Rawalpindi team.
It was further announced that, in the future, victims will no longer need to visit NAB offices to claim their compensation, as funds will be directly transferred to their bank accounts. This milestone reflects NAB’s commitment to protecting public interests, recovering looted funds, and restoring public trust.
Earlier, DG NAB (Rawalpindi/Islamabad) Waqar Ahmed Chohan highlighted the efforts of the concerned case officers and briefed the audience on the challenges faced during the recovery of the looted amount from the accused in the B4U scam.
The beneficiaries expressed deep satisfaction and gratitude for NAB’s efforts, stating that they had lost all hope of recovering their savings. They praised the relentless efforts of Chairman NAB, Lt. Gen. (R) Nazir Ahmed, and NAB officials, whose hard work made this recovery and distribution possible.
The ceremony was presided over by Chairman NAB, Lt. Gen. (R) Nazir Ahmed, and attended by Prosecutor General Accountability Syed Ihtesham Qadir Shah, Director Generals, senior NAB officers, and a large number of the general public and scam affectees.
