Category: 1. Pakistan

The police on Sunday said that they were investigating the death of senior DawnNews TV reporter “from all possible angles,” hours after his body was found in Sindh’s Sanghar district.

The senior journalist was found dead in his car, parked on Hyderabad Road in Sanghar, on Saturday night under what police termed “mysterious circumstances”. The body was found in the driving seat, with a gunshot wound to the head.

Sanghar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Abid Baloch told Dawn.com that police were investigating the death of DawnNewsTV reporter Khawar Hussain Bajwa from “all possible angles”.

“The postmortem of the journalist was conducted in Sanghar’s Civil Hospital, and police are awaiting the provisional findings of the process,” he said.

“Apparently, there is a single bullet wound from a 9mm pistol with an exit wound on the left side of the temple”, SSP Baloch said, adding that only one bullet casing was found.

“We are not drawing any conclusion at this point and are looking at this case from all possible angles,” the SSP explained.

According to Sanghar police, Hussain’s body had been kept in the cold storage facility at the Red Crescent hospital in Latifabad, as his parents are said to be arriving from the United States early on Monday morning.

“Then the body will be taken to Sanghar, which is the ancestral home of the journalist, for burial,” the SSP said.

Meanwhile, Sanghar police obtained a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera recording of a restaurant, outside of which was the car in which his body was found.

The SSP stated that a guard at the restaurant told police that he arrived at around 7pm for his duties, and Hussain arrived in his vehicle 45 minutes to an hour later.

The guard told the police that the journalist had used the restaurant’s toilet and then sat back in the vehicle.

“After some time when he didn’t place any order, the guard, out of curiosity, went towards the vehicle and reported back to the restaurant manager, telling him he noticed something unusual with a man sitting inside,” the SSP said.

“Two waiters arrived to confirm the watchman’s statement and found out that blood was oozing from the right side of his [Hussain’s] temple, with a 9mm pistol in his right hand,” SSP Baloch added.

According to the SSP, Hussain’s brother-in-law told police that he didn’t inform them about his Saturday arrival, although he asked them to hold an annual religious ritual as per the family’s tradition. Hussain neither told friends in Sanghar about his visit nor did he attend the ritual.

“His sister confirmed that he had celebrated Eidul Azha with her on her insistence, after their parents shifted to the US this May,” the SSP said.

Last night, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and sought a report from the police chief, with instructions that the investigation be handed over to the best police officer.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said that the government is working on a priority basis to digitise the economy and transition the transaction system to a cashless and digital model.

PM Shehbaz stated this while presiding a review meeting on cashless and digital economy in Islamabad.

The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the steps taken and progress made toward a cashless economy.

“The government is working to change the buying and selling system to a cashless system,” he said.

Digital payments thriving in Pakistan: Q3 sees 2bn transactions: SBP

He instructed all the chief secretaries to fully cooperate with the federal government in taking the Raast system to the district government level.

The meeting was briefed on the progress of initiatives toward a cashless economy.

According to the briefing, digital IDs will be created through Pakistan Digital Public Infrastructure, which will include each individual’s national identity card, biometric data, and mobile phone numbers.

These digital IDs will be used for digital payments, the briefing added.

The briefing also stated that provincial governments have made significant progress in linking public-to-government and government-to-public payment systems with Raast.

Regarding the development of digital infrastructure, the federal development authority has granted right of way for fiber connectivity, while discussions with Pakistan Railways and the National Highway Authority in this regard are ongoing.

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Finance & Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahsan Iqbal Cheema, Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Federal Minister for IT & Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Prime Minister’s Advisor Dr Tauqir Shah, Minister of State for Finance & Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, and other senior government officials.

A Lahore magistrate on Sunday dismissed the case against transgender persons allegedly organising an “objectionable” private party after police had arrested them earlier.

According to the court order, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the case was dismissed after “no incriminating material is available on record which connects the accused persons with the commission of alleged offences.

“Hence, the request of 10 days for physical remand of the accused persons is hereby turned down, and the accused persons present in the court are hereby discharged in this case.”

The order added that no private witness of the occurrence was associated during the raid, nor were any statements taken.

“Moreover, no permission for making a raid is attached with the file on a private place. Prima facie, it seems that the accused persons were included in the case on the basis of forged and concocted facts,” the order said.

Lawyer Haider Butt represented the accused in the case. He confirmed to Dawn.com that all the accused were released and the case was discharged against them.

According to the first information report (FIR) of the incident, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the Punjab government ordered the arrests after videos of the party, purportedly involving 50-60 individuals, including transgender persons, went viral on social media.

Fashion designer Maria B initially posted videos on her social media accounts, demanding action against “transgender activists” that she claimed featured in the clips, terming such gatherings “against the moral values of the country.”

Per the FIR, the footage, dated August 1, allegedly contained “explicit content, prompting public outcry and a swift response from law enforcement.”

The case was registered on behalf of the government at the Naseerabad police station against “a group of 50 to 60 transgender persons under sections 292 (sale of obscene material), 292-A (printing/advertising obscene matter), and 294 (obscene acts in public) of the Pakistan Penal Code, alongside Section 6 of the Sound System Act.”

Following the arrests, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) Lahore, Faisal Kamran, had said, “Promoting obscenity under the guise of a party or photoshoot is a serious legal offence.”

He said that illegal and unethical acts will not be tolerated in any form. “All individuals involved in the incident will be brought to justice.”

Kamran added that the screening of the banned film Joyland, which features a transgender love affair, was also stopped in the city. “Strict action will be taken against any activity conflicting with Islam and the law.”

The movie was set to screen in Lahore today, nearly two years after it was barred from cinemas in Punjab. The long-awaited screening was said to take place at an alternative venue instead of a movie theatre.

Responding to the development, Islamabad-based transgender rights activist Nayyab Ali said in a post on X that individuals seen in the video were “not trans activists” and had “nothing to do with our movement.”

Ali also alleged that the video was shot at a private party and only went viral after Maria B posted it, saying, “If it’s fahashi (vulgarity), then who spread it to millions? Maria B did. That’s a crime itself.”

Meanwhile, human rights activists raised concerns over the potential misuse of morality laws on social media. “While obscenity laws exist, their vague wording often leads to arbitrary enforcement, disproportionately targeting marginalised communities,” said a legal expert, requesting anonymity.

The government authorities also vowed to expand the crackdown on “immoral activities” across the province.

Pakistan is grappling with relentless monsoon rains, as officials warn of even heavier downpours in the coming days.The death toll due to the flash flood continues to climb, killing at least 327 people in the country’s north, bringing the nationwide toll to nearly 650 since the rains began on 26 June.On Sunday, the Pakistan Meteorological Department issued a fresh alert, warning of heavier rainfall nationwide, from 17 to 21 August. It urged residents in the northwest to take “precautionary measures” amid fears of worsening floods. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said the downpours, which began earlier than usual this year, are expected to continue with greater intensity over the next fortnight, as per PTI.Khyber Pakhtunkhwa saw the hardest hit, with 327 deaths confirmed so far. The Buner district alone has reported more than 200 fatalities, making it the worst-affected area. At least 137 people have been injured across the province as houses collapsed and raging torrents swept away residents, livestock and vehicles.Rescue efforts are proving difficult. Nearly 2,000 personnel have been deployed, but landslides, washed-out bridges and broken link routes have slowed relief work. “Heavy rainfall, landslides and washed-out roads are severely hampering rescue efforts, particularly the transportation of heavy machinery and ambulances,” Bilal Ahmed Faizi, spokesman for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s rescue agency told PTI. “In some areas, workers are forced to walk long distances to reach disaster sites. They are trying to evacuate survivors, but very few people are relocating due to the deaths of their relatives or loved ones being trapped in the debris.”Buner’s deputy commissioner Kashif Qayum Khan confirmed that rescuers were searching for alternative routes to reach cut-off areas. “Many more people may still be trapped under the debris, which local residents cannot clear manually,” he said.The Pakistan Army’s Corps of Engineers Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team has also launched operations in Buner, Shangla and Swat. Using advanced equipment, they are working to recover those trapped under rubble while also repairing damaged roads and bridges. Local villagers have joined the effort, combing through debris with their bare hands.Funerals were being held across devastated villages, as survivors struggled to search through the ruins by hands. “I helped retrieve the bodies of children I taught,” said Saifullah Khan, a schoolteacher in Buner. “The trauma is unbearable.”On Saturday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Ali Amin Khan Gandapur visited Buner to review rescue and relief operations. According to a briefing given to him, cloudbursts struck seven village councils in the district, destroying 5,380 houses. So far, 209 deaths have been confirmed, with 134 people still missing and 159 injured.Rescue personnel, doctors, paramedics, police, civil defence volunteers and three battalions of the Pakistan Army are working together. Around 3,500 stranded people have been evacuated to safety, while the search for the missing continues. Gandapur pledged that the provincial government would provide full support, PTI reported. “No effort will be spared in the rehabilitation of flood victims. The provincial government will provide all necessary resources on a priority basis,” he said. He also announced the release of Rs 1.5 billion for relief and rehabilitation.Authorities have now declared six districts, Buner, Bajaur, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra and Battagram, as disaster-hit. Nationwide, the NDMA reported that torrential monsoon rains have left more than 650 people dead and 905 injured this season. Floodwaters have destroyed livestock, shops, vehicles and vital infrastructure. While some key roads reopened temporarily on Saturday, many remote areas remain cut off.

HYDERABAD: Journalist Khawar Hussain, who was found dead in his car in mysterious circumstances, has died by suicide, an initial autopsy report released on Sunday revealed.

Hussain, a young journalist associated with a private news channel, was found dead in his car Saturday night on Hyderabad Road in Sanghar, SSP Sanghar Abid Baloch told reporters.

As per the initial post-mortem report, the bullet recovered from his head was fired from his licensed pistol. “The evidence so far indicates suicide,” a civil surgeon involved in the examination said.

Police said they have collected fingerprints, CCTV footage and other material for forensic review.

Video evidence shows Hussain entering and leaving a local restaurant twice before returning to his vehicle, where he stayed for nearly two hours, investigators said.

Police have also recovered one of the two mobile phones in use, while the other remains missing.

The investigators say it may have been misplaced, dropped, or left behind, and efforts are underway to trace it. The recovered device has been sent for forensic analysis.

According to police, the investigation is being conducted “with minute attention to detail” to establish the exact sequence of events leading to the journalist’s death.

The journalist had been stationed in Karachi for nearly 10 years, working with different media organisations during his career.

The tragic incident drew a quick notice from Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who asked the provincial police chief to submit a report at the earliest.

Shah directed the Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ghulam Nabi Memon to assign the case to the best investigators and leave no stone unturned in the investigation.

He also offered condolences to Hussain’s family, prayed for their strength, and instructed the administration to extend them support.

Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori also expressed grief over Hussain’s death and asked the authorities to carry out a probe into the incident. 

PUBLISHED
August 17, 2025

KARACHI:

Just days before President Donald Trump’s inauguration for the second term, a senior Pakistani diplomat briefed a group of people including experts and journalists in Islamabad. His focus was on the Pakistan-US relationship under Trump’s administration. The bottom line was: Pakistan should be prepared for a tough challenge.

According to the diplomat, Trump’s team was surrounded by people who had little sympathy for Pakistan. Experts and those who understand Trump as well as the nature of Pakistan-US ties echoed similar sentiments. There was consensus that despite the unpredictable nature of Trump, there was little or no room for better prospects of Pakistan-US ties. On the contrary, everyone agreed that the relationship between the US and India would only deepen under President Trump’s second term.

But when President Trump delivered a maiden address to the US Congress, he praised Pakistan. This was some achievement given that until then he spared no one. He launched a diatribe both against friends and foes. Pakistan was the only exception, which Trump mentioned in a positive way.

His praise stemmed from Pakistan’s assistance in arresting one of the key masterminds of the Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul in August 2021. Muhammad Sharifullah, one of the ISIS-Khorasan operatives and according to the US was one of the facilitators of Kabul Airport attack, was apprehended on the intelligence provided by the CIA and swiftly handed over to the US.

That cooperation not only earned Pakistan praise from Trump but also opened a channel of communication that would eventually lead to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir being invited to launch at the White House in an unprecedented turn of events.

When Trump applauded Pakistan at the US Congress, people were still sceptical that this bonhomie would be short-lived as Trump cannot be trusted. Questions were raised about what Pakistan had offered or was going to offer to the US in return for this cozying up approach of the US? Many people also wonder whether Pakistan would get anything in return. But what happened over the past few weeks following high-level exchanges and frequent interactions between the two countries was that Trump’s praise was not mere rhetoric but now reflecting a shift in the US policy.

The substantive outcome of Pakistan helping Trump to advance his domestic agenda by arresting Abbey Gate bombing facilitator was the US State Department’s move to declare Balochistan Liberation Army and its suicide squad Majeed Brigade as terrorist outfit. The designation of BLA and the Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTO), was a major victory for Pakistan.

Islamabad had long sought its listing but with little success. The US declared Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as a terrorist outfit but successive US administrations refrained from taking a similar stance against groups active in Balochistan. One of the reasons included that such groups including BLA and Majeed Brigade were targeting not just the Pakistani interests but also primarily the Chinese interests in the resource-rich Balochistan province.

This in many ways probably served the agendas of those who don’t want China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to succeed. That was the reason the US decision was extraordinary.

The United States not only listed BLA and Majeed Brigade but also seems to be ready to extend cooperation to Pakistan to fight them. The two countries held counterterrorism dialogue, a regular feature, in Islamabad recently. The noticeable change was that for the first time BLA made it to the joint statement.

Both delegations underscored the “critical importance” of developing effective approaches to terrorist threats, singling out the BLA alongside transnational outfits. Washington lauded Islamabad’s “continued successes” in containing entities that threaten regional and global peace. Therefore, listing of BLA and Majeed Brigade is a development that carries legal, political, diplomatic, and operational implications for Pakistan, the US, and even India.

First, any BLA or Majeed Brigade funds or property in the US jurisdiction are now frozen. Members and affiliates are barred from entering the US. Providing material support to the group is now a serious US federal crime, even for individuals outside the US if they have US connections. The designation makes it harder for BLA to raise funds internationally through charities, front companies, or sympathetic diaspora groups.

The FTO tag makes it riskier for members to travel abroad or seek asylum in countries aligned with US counterterrorism policies. The US can now more actively share intelligence with Pakistan and allies to track, disrupt, or eliminate the group’s cells. Diaspora-based sympathisers in the West could face monitoring and prosecution. If BLA finds safe havens in neighbouring states including Afghanistan, the US listing pressures those governments to take action or face reputational costs.

While the designation won’t end the insurgency, it can weaken its external support structure, especially for high-profile suicide attacks like those by the Majeed Brigade.

Second, Pakistan has long stated that BLA is a foreign-backed terrorist group responsible for attacks in Balochistan. The US designation is an international endorsement of that position.

Third, India has openly supported Baloch separatists. The US move signals that Washington is not aligning with New Delhi on this issue.

Fourth, this listing highlights a warming security relationship between Pakistan and the US.

Fifth, quietly, this could create discomfort in New Delhi if US counterterrorism measures start exposing any Indian contacts with Baloch separatists. It is not said publicly but the US move could also be linked to its keen interest in the untapped mines and minerals resources available in abundance in Balochistan. But security is a major challenge.

Some view the US interest in mines and minerals with suspicion. The view, nevertheless, in official Pakistani circles is that the US investment in Balochistan could stabilise the situation and it may lay the bases for long-term cooperation between the two countries. The listing of BLA and Majeed Brigade is being seen in that context.

Khawar Hussain, a Karachi-based journalist and reporter for Dawn News channel, was found shot dead on Sunday in Sanghar, police said.

Hussain had been sitting in his car for hours outside a private hotel on Hyderabad Road in Sanghar city, according to police.

DIG Faisal Bashir said CCTV footage from outside the hotel is under review.

At one point, according to Dawn News reporter Asim Khan, Hussain was seen going into the restaurant in the CCTV footage. He asked for the washroom and then returned to his car.

Witnesses told the police that no sound of gunfire was heard. The car windows were rolled up, and no evidence was found of anyone nearby or any commotion around the vehicle.

The DIG said call data records were being retrieved and would be available within 24 hours. The body has been placed at a Hyderabad mortuary, while the post-mortem is awaited.

Sanjhay Sadhwani, a colleague of Hussain, said the journalist had been a political reporter for 10 years, having worked with Apna News and Aaj News before joining Dawn News.

The Karachi Press Club, where Hussain was an active member, has demanded an impartial investigation and announced a three-day mourning period.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Iqbal Khattak, Executive Director of Freedom Network and Pakistan representative of Reporters Without Borders, said they were working to determine the motive behind the murder of journalist Khawar Hussain. He added that all aspects of the investigation must be shared to establish whether the killing was work-related.

“Sindh remains critical for safety of journalists despite having special law for protection of journalists. The commission working under this law is hoped will take the lead to get all details of this journalist’s murder.”

SCPJMP seeks police report on Khawar Hussain’s death

Sindh Commission for the Protection of Journalists and Other Media Practitioners (SCPJMP) has expressed concern over the sudden death of Khawar Hussain and sought a detailed report from police.

In a letter addressed to the Sanghar Senior Superintendent of Police, the Commission directed him to submit the initial report on the incident. It also asked for details of the investigation conducted and actions taken so far.

Copies of the directive were forwarded to the SCPJMP chairperson, the focal person at Sanghar, the home department secretary, and the Sindh inspector-general of police. The letter was issued by Saeed Memon, Secretary of SCPJMP.

PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said Hussain was a dutiful and responsible professional whose sudden death was a shock to the media fraternity.

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon called his death an irreparable loss, while Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar sought a report from the Sanghar SSP and said Hussain’s contributions to journalism were unforgettable.

Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, Sindh Minister Nasir Shah, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab and Shazia Marri also expressed deep sorrow over his death.