Category: 1. Pakistan

Security forces have killed eight terrorists during two successive intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Balochistan’s Kalat district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Tuesday.

According to the military’s media wing, the first operation was launched on July 19, targeting a location suspected of harbouring terrorists linked to the group. “During the operation, four terrorists were successfully neutralized,” the ISPR stated.

Acting on intelligence gathered during the mission, a follow-up sanitization operation was carried out on July 21 in the surrounding areas. “Four more terrorists of Fitna al Hindustan were hunted down and sent to hell,” the ISPR added.

Security personnel also discovered and dismantled a terrorist hideout during the course of the operations. A large cache of weapons, ammunition, and explosives was recovered from the site.

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“Security forces of Pakistan, in step with the nation, remain resolute in defeating all threats to the peace, stability, and progress of Balochistan,” the ISPR emphasized, reaffirming the military’s commitment to eradicating terrorism.

President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the security forces for the successful operation. In his statement, the President commended the forces for “bringing anti-state elements to justice with courage and professional excellence.”

“Terrorists seek to sabotage peace and stability — something that will not be allowed under any circumstances. The nation is united, and terrorism will be defeated at all costs,” he stated, adding that operations would continue until terrorism is completely eradicated from Pakistan.

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Separately, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also praised the security forces, calling the operation in Kalat a significant success. “We salute the security forces for sending Indian-backed terrorists to hell and foiling their malicious intentions through timely action,” he said.

Naqvi added that the nation viewed such efforts with admiration. “The humiliating end of these Indian-sponsored terrorists sends a clear message — there is no hiding place for such conspiracies in Pakistan. Every last terrorist will be eliminated from the country,” he asserted.

The federal government on Tuesday welcomed a Sargodha Anti-Terrorism Court’s (ATC) sentencing of Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly (PA) Malik Ahmed Khan Bhachar to 10 years in prison over a case related to the nationwide riots on May 9, 2023, hailing it as a positive step.

On May 9, 2023, military installations and state-owned buildings were vandalised as PTI supporters protested the arrest of ex-premier Imran Khan — who was released later but has been imprisoned in various cases since August 2023. Following the riots, thousands of protesters, including the party’s top leadership, were arrested.

Addressing a press conference today in Islamabad, Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik said: “Today, the Sargodha ATC issued an order and we welcome it … I think it is a very positive step as justice has been upheld.”

He said the verdict “fulfils all requirements of justice” and followed due process since the entire trial proceedings were carried out legally. “The decision announced is in accordance with the law and the Constitution,” Malik said.

The state minister said Bhachar, PTI MNA Ahmed Chattha and former MNA Bilal Ejaz were sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment each in a case related to the riots.

“When you take the law into your own hand, whether you’re an MNA or MPA or opposition leader … the [status] doesn’t matter, as the law is equal for everyone and will come into force.”

Malik hoped that other May 9-related cases would be decided soon as well.

Assailing the PTI, he alleged that the riots were “carefully curated” via “planning” to precisely attack over 200 locations.

Meanwhile, Bachar said in a post on X that he would not abandon his support of Imran.

PTI MNA Asad Qaiser condemned the sentences, alleging that “neither was any transparent or legal procedure followed in the case, nor was any credible witness presented. The demands of justice were grossly violated.”

He said in a post on X that the party would challenge the “biased decision” in the high court.

Terming the decision “outright injustice”, the party’s South Punjab wing said, “The truth is that the establishment’s role in this entire process is evident to all, and nothing called justice remains.

“These punishments are not only vengeful actions but also an insult to the country’s democracy, judiciary, and people, and now the people will no longer stay silent!” the statement read.

PTI MNA and lawyer Shafqat Awan also condemned the decision. “I have never seen a more horrific and brutal decision than the one given by the Sargodha ATC judge,” he told reporters.

Punjab Assembly PTI MPAs restored

Today’s conviction follows a recent tussle between the PML-N’s Punjab government and the PTI, after PA Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan suspended 26 opposition MPAs and sought their disqualification for their “unparliamentary conduct”.

However, days ago, in a significant step towards de-escalation of political tensions, Ahmad formally rejected the disqualification petitions following negotiations between the government and the opposition.

A notification by the assembly secretariat today said the 26 PTI lawmakers stood restored as MPAs.

The notification, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, said that the earlier order to suspend the provincial assembly members was withdrawn. The order listed the names of the 26 PTI MPAs.

LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Acting Speaker Zahid Iqbal Channar has reinstated 26 suspended opposition lawmakers, saying that their presence would send a positive message and restore the spirit of assembly proceedings.

“Even I’m not enjoying it without the opposition members,” Channar remarked while addressing the house on Tuesday.

He said the presence of opposition lawmakers is crucial for meaningful parliamentary debate and directed the immediate issuance of a notification to bring them back to the assembly floor.

On June 27, PTI lawmakers protested in the house during Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s speech. The proceedings broke into a disarray as lawmakers surrounded the speaker’s dais and raised slogans.

In response, Speaker Malik Ahmed Khan suspended 26 opposition lawmakers for 15 sittings and fined 10 MPAs Rs200,000 each for “damaging public property”.

He then filed disqualification references with the Election Commission against the 26 PTI legislators over “unparliamentary conduct”.

However, two days earlier, the PA speaker formally rejected the petitions seeking the disqualification of 26 PTI members following successful negotiations between the government and the opposition.

In his written decision, he underscored that the speaker’s role was not merely to act as a “postman” by forwarding such requests to the election commission. He cautioned that such an unscrutinised process could “weaken the constitutional framework” and “curtail freedom of expression” within the provincial assembly.

He clarified that while disruptive behaviour in parliaments worldwide often faced stringent measures, the serious allegations of legal and constitutional violations, including those related to oaths, must first be proven in a competent court or tribunal.

PTI-backed opposition MPAs include Malik Farhad Masood, Muhammad Tanveer Aslam, Syed Riffat Mehmood, Yasir Mehmood Qureshi, Kaleem Ullah Khan, Muhammad Ansar Iqbal, Ali Asif, Zulfiqar Ali, Ahmad Mujtaba Chaudhary, Shahid Javed, Muhammad Ismael, and Khayal Ahmad.

Shahbaz Ahmad, Tayyab Rashid, Imtiaz Mehmood, Ali Imtiaz, Rashid Tufail, Muhammad Murtaza Iqbal, Khalid Zubair Nisar, Ch Muhammad Ejaz Shafi, Saima Kanwal, Muhammad Naeem, Sajjad Ahmed, Rana, Aourang Zaib, Shuaib Ameer and Usama Asghar Ali Gujjar.

Separately, 10 opposition lawmakers had been fined more than Rs2 million for acts of vandalism such as breaking microphones as per the relevant video evidence.

Those fined include Chaudhary Javed Kausar, Asad Abbas, Tanveer Aslam, Riffat Mehmood, Muhammad Ismael, Shahbaz Ahmad, Imtiaz Mehmood, Khalid Zubair, Rana Aourang Zaib and Muhammad Ahsan Ali — all of whom will have to pay Rs203,550 each.

Balochistan chief minister Sarfraz Bugti has confirmed the arrest of a tribal chief who allegedly ordered the so-called honour killing of a couple accused of having an affair. Condemning the incident, Bugti on Monday said, “No one has a right, no matter what, to kill someone in such a painful and disgusting way, and then video shoot it. It is a crime. It is a murder.”“We will make sure that they all will be prosecuted,” he added, as quoted by Reuters.The incident came to light after a disturbing video went viral on social media last month. The footage showed a group of men taking a man and woman from vehicles into a desert area in Balochistan, where they were shot at close range. A man is seen shooting the woman in the back, followed by images of the bloodied man lying near her body. The video then shows more gunfire aimed at both victims. ]According to provincial police chief Moazzam Jah Ansari, the woman’s brother carried out the shooting on behalf of her family and tribe. He added that Sher Baz Satakzai, the tribal chief, ordered the execution. Police have arrested 14 people in connection with the case, though it remains unclear if the brother is among them, according to Reuters.Chief minister Bugti said the man and woman both had children from previous marriages and were accused of having an affair out of wedlock. Earlier reports had suggested the couple may have been killed for marrying without family approval, according to Reuters.On Monday, a local court ordered police to exhume the victims’ bodies for autopsies as part of the investigation.Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also condemned the killings, calling the accused “beasts” who deserve no leniency.The human rights commission of Pakistan criticised the rising trend of honour killings in the country, reporting at least 405 such cases in 2024 alone. Most victims, it noted, are women, and these murders are often carried out by relatives in the name of protecting family honour.

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Updated On: Tue, 22 Jul 2025

17:17:58 PKT

LAHORE (Dunya News) – Acting Speaker of the Punjab Assembly, Zaheer Iqbal Chanar, has reinstated 26 previously suspended opposition members of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

During a session chaired by Chanar, Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman appealed for the reinstatement, stating that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also wishes for elected representatives to return to the Assembly to ensure proper constituency representation.

He emphasised that the presence of the opposition is vital to the vibrancy of the house, and that the Assembly feels incomplete without their participation.

May 9 case: Punjab Assembly opposition leader Bhachar sentenced to 10 years in jail

Responding to the appeal, the acting Speaker said reinstating the members would send a positive message and ordered their immediate restoration. He also directed that official notifications be issued to bring the opposition members back to the Assembly.

On June 27, PTI lawmakers disrupted the Punjab Assembly during Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s speech by chanting slogans and surrounding the speaker’s podium.

In response, Speaker Malik Ahmed Khan suspended 26 opposition members for 15 sessions and fined 10 MPAs Rs200,000 each for damaging public property. Disqualification references were also sent to the Election Commission over “unparliamentary conduct.”

However, two days earlier, the speaker rejected the disqualification pleas after successful talks with the opposition. He clarified that serious allegations must be proven in court, and warned against undermining free expression or the assembly’s constitutional role.

The 26 PTI-backed members include Malik Farhad Masood, Tanveer Aslam, Yasir Mehmood Qureshi, Ahmad Mujtaba, Shahbaz Ahmad, Saima Kanwal, Usama Asghar Gujjar, and others.

 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed authorities to expedite rescue operations in flood-affected areas, his office said, as torrential monsoon rains killed at least 15 people during the last 24 hours in the country’s northern areas. 

At least 10 people were killed and two injured during the last 24 hours in rain-related incidents across Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the provincial disaster management authority (PDMA) KP said in its report on Tuesday. Separately, a Gilgit-Baltistan official confirmed five people had died, among them four tourists, while several were reported missing after a cloudburst near the popular Babusar Road triggered floods and landslides in the area on Monday afternoon. 

In a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Sharif expressed sorrow at the loss of lives caused by heavy rains and floods in several parts of the country.

“The prime minister directed that rescue operations in flood-affected areas be expedited,” the PMO said, directing the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to remain in constant contact with provincial authorities and other government departments. 

Sharif directed the authorities to provide immediate relief to the people, saying that all preparations to deal with any possible situation in the coming days should be completed. 

He directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) and Frontier Works Organization (FWO) to accelerate restoration work on highways and link roads affected by the floods. 

Heavy rains led to urban flooding in Islamabad’s Saidpur Village on Monday, as footage shared widely on social media showed severely damaged cars being swept away by raging currents in nullahs.

The prime minister also expressed grief over news reports of a father and his daughter being swept away in their car by floodwaters in Islamabad’s Defense Housing Authority Phase 5 area.

A video being shared widely on social media and television channels showed the car being swept away by the floodwater, with a man calling out for help from within the vehicle. Local media widely reported that authorities had launched a rescue operation to recover the father and daughter. 

“The prime minister directed that all possible efforts be made to rescue the father and daughter swept away in the floodwater with their vehicle,” the PMO said. 

As per the PDMA KP’s preliminary report issued on Tuesday, the 10 victims of rain-related incidents include two men, two women and six children while the injured includes a man and one child. 

The incidents occurred in various districts of the province such as Swat, Bajaur, Buner, Upper Kohistan, Upper Chitral and Shangla, as per the PDMA report.

The development takes place as the death toll from rain-related incidents in Pakistan since June 26 has surged to 221, as per the NDMA’s latest situation report.

Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province has reported the highest number of deaths at 135, followed by 46 in KP, 22 in Sindh, 16 in Balochistan, and one each in the federal capital of Islamabad and Azad Kashmir.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department warned this week that landslides and mudslides may block roads in vulnerable areas of Murree, Galliyat, Azad Kashmir and GB, forecasting heavy rains till July 25. Torrential rains, windstorms and lightning could also damage weak structures, electric poles, billboards, vehicles and solar panels, it added.

Monsoon season brings South Asia 70 to 80 percent of its annual rainfall, arriving in early June in India and late June in Pakistan, and lasting through until September.

However, Pakistan is ranked consistently among countries most affected by climate change impacts. Pakistan has witnessed irregular weather patterns in recent years, which include heavy rains, droughts and soaring temperatures. 

In 2022, record-breaking monsoon rains combined with glacial melt submerged nearly a third of Pakistan, killing more than 1,700 people and displacing over 8 million. In May, at least 32 people were killed in severe storms, including strong hailstorms.

In a significant development for wildlife conservation in Pakistan, the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard, locally known as Bhakhar, has shown promising signs of population recovery in the Cholistan Desert, according to Punjab wildlife authorities.

Wildlife experts estimate the global population of the Great Indian Bustard to be between 80 and 90, with approximately 30 to 35 believed to inhabit the Cholistan region of Pakistan. This fragile recovery is the result of enhanced conservation efforts, ongoing field monitoring, and the creation of a dedicated public wildlife reserve.

“This bird is now restricted to the Cholistan Desert in Pakistan and Rajasthan in India,” confirmed Wildlife Conservator Syed Rizwan Mehmood.

He documented rare video footage and photographs of the species during a recent field survey.

“The sighting and documentation of its presence confirm its continued survival in Pakistan. It’s a major breakthrough.”

Bahawalpur Deputy Chief Wildlife Ranger Syed Ali Usman Bukhari emphasised the role of dedicated habitat protection in aiding the bird’s recovery.

“A designated Public Wildlife Reserve has been established in Cholistan specifically to protect the Great Indian Bustard. Strengthened conservation measures have led to a gradual increase in the population of this native species,” he said.

The Great Indian Bustard (ardeotis nigriceps) is listed as “critically endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), making it one of the most threatened bird species in South Asia.

Once found in large numbers across the Indian subcontinent, the species is now confined to fragmented habitats in India and Pakistan due to habitat loss, hunting and human disturbance.

Renowned for its distinctive appearance, the Great Indian Bustard is among the heaviest flying birds in the world. Males can weigh up to 15 kilograms, stand about one meter tall, and have a wingspan exceeding two meters. The bird is easily identified by its brown, white and black plumage and a prominent black patch on the neck.

It lays only one egg per year, resulting in an extremely low breeding rate making every individual crucial to the survival of the species.

Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), all international trade of the species is strictly prohibited. Domestically, the bird enjoys legal protection, with all forms of hunting or trade banned.

Unlike the more commonly targeted Houbara Bustard, which has faced significant pressure from hunting by foreign falconers, the Great Indian Bustard has largely been spared due to its rarity and the strict penalties imposed on violators.

Conservationists remain cautiously optimistic. “The progress we’re seeing in Cholistan is encouraging, but the species remains on the brink,” said a wildlife official. “We must maintain and expand protection efforts, raise awareness, and safeguard critical habitats if we are to prevent its extinction.”

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) of Sargodha has sentenced Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmed Bhachar, MNA Ahmed Chattha and many other PTI supporters to imprisonment for 10 years in May 9 riots case on Tuesday, Aaj News reported.

They were alleged of involvement in sabotage activities during PTI’s countrywide violent protests on May 9, 2023.

After hearing arguments in the May 9 riots case, the ATC has issued its verdict, sentencing all 32 in prison for 10 years each.

The court judgement adds to the embattled PTI’s legal and political woes that started following the May 9 violent incidents during which military installations including Rawalpindi’s General Headquarters (GHQ) were vandalised by the party supporters upon former prime minister Imran Khan’s arrest in a case.