Category: 1. Pakistan

Tensions flared after India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled territories in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. The strikes led to four days of clashes, which ended on May 10 following an understanding to halt military actions.

India, however, has maintained that any dialogue with Pakistan must be limited to the issues of terrorism and the return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

On the topic of Pakistan-UK relations, PM Sharif said the positive momentum in bilateral ties and welcomed recent trade talks that, he said, could lead to mutually beneficial opportunities.

He also praised the UK government’s decision to resume Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to and from the UK, describing it as a step that would ease travel challenges for the British Pakistani community and boost people-to-people exchanges.

Pakistan and Bangladesh on Wednesday agreed in principle to grant visa-free entry to holders of diplomatic and official passports, along with a pledge to stronger security cooperation.

The two countries were once one nation but split following a bloody civil war, which saw the territory previously referred to as ‘East Pakistan’ seceding to form the independent nation of Bangladesh. In the years since the split between Pakistan and Bangladesh, Dhaka’s leaders — especially the ousted regime of Sheikh Hasina — stayed firmly in the Indian camp, preferring to maintain close ties with New Delhi and keeping Islamabad at arm’s length.

However, ever since a popular uprising that saw Hasina’s government toppled in August of last year, with the deposed premier fleeing to her old ally India, there has been a thaw in ties between the two capitals, with trade and bilateral relations seeing a marked improvement.

In May, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Pakistan Iqbal Hussain Khan said that the visa regime between Pakistan and Bangladesh was being eased for the business community to foster economic growth in the region.

Today’s development came during a visit of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to Bangladesh, where he met Home Minister retired Lieutenant General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury in Dhaka.

Naqvi was presented with a guard of honour before the two sides began discussions.

During the meeting, the two ministers held wide-ranging talks on bilateral issues and matters of mutual interest, with a particular focus on strengthening cooperation in internal security and law enforcement.

“Significant progress on visa-free entry for diplomatic and official passports during the meeting. Pakistan and Bangladesh make a principled decision to provide visa-free entry facility for diplomatic and official passports,” said a statement from the interior ministry.

Both sides expressed a strong desire to deepen collaboration in key areas, including counter-terrorism, combatting drug trafficking and preventing human smuggling.

The ministers also discussed plans to exchange training programmes between police academies, aiming to improve professional capacity and technical expertise.

Chowdhury thanked Naqvi for offering support in police training and described the visit as an “important milestone” in advancing ties between the two countries.

“I wholeheartedly welcome my brother upon his arrival in Dhaka. Your visit is of great importance for the promotion of Pakistan-Bangladesh relations,” he said.

To follow up on the decisions taken during the meeting, both sides agreed to form a joint committee with Interior Secretary Khurram Agha leading the Pakistani side in this coordination effort.

The committee will oversee implementation of the agreed initiatives and explore further avenues for cooperation.

As part of the growing partnership, a high-level delegation from Bangladesh is expected to visit Islamabad soon to study the Safe City Project and tour the National Police Academy.

– Advertisement –

LAHORE, Jul 23 (APP):The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Lahore officially announced the position holders of the Secondary School Annual Examination 2025 on Wednesday.

A special ceremony was held in connection with the result announcement, where Commissioner Lahore Division and Chairman of the Board Zaid Bin Maqsood shared the names of top-performing students.

According to BISE Lahore, Haram Fatima (Roll No. 115235) secured 1193 marks, earning the overall first position in the Matriculation examination. The second position was shared by Noor-ul-Huda (Roll No. 119842) and Haji Abu Zar Tanveer (Roll No. 220365), both scoring 1188 marks. Muhammad Ali (Roll No. 254976) secured the third position with 1187 marks.

In the Science Group (Boys), Haji Abu Zar Tanveer stood first with 1188 marks, followed by Muhammad Ali with 1187 marks. The third position was jointly secured by Muhammad Zahib Siddiq and Faizan Raza, both scoring 1186 marks.

Among girls in the Science Group, Haram Fatima claimed the first position with 1193 marks. Noor-ul-Huda secured the second position with 1188 marks, while the third position was shared by Ayesha Mohiuddin and Fatima Faisal, both obtaining 1186 marks.

In the Arts Group (Boys), Abu Bakar stood first with 1088 marks. Muhammad Talha secured second position with 1074 marks, while Ghulam Abbas obtained the third position with 1065 marks.

Among girls in the Arts Group, Hafiza Amara Ashraf secured first position with 1154 marks. Aifa Usman stood second with 1149 marks, while Zainab Bint Asim Butt secured third position with 1141 marks.

A grand prize distribution ceremony in honor of the position holders will be held on Thursday, July 24, at 10:00 AM at the Nawaz Sharif Center of Excellence, 4-Shahrah Aiwan-e-Sanat-o-Tijarat, G.O.R.-I, Lahore. Punjab Minister for Higher Education Rana Sikandar Hayat and Task Force Chairman Mian Muzammil Mahmood will distribute awards and certificates.

Chairman Zaid Bin Maqsood congratulated the students, their parents, and teachers on their achievements and encouraged them to continue striving for excellence. Board Secretary and Controller Rizwan Nazir was also present at the ceremony.

A Quetta anti-terrorism court on Wednesday extended the physical remand of tribal leader Sardar Sherbaz Satakzai, one of the main suspects in the ‘honour’ killing of a man and a woman, for 10 more days.

The viral video of the murder showed a group of men leading a couple out of vehicles and into a desert before gunning them down with pistols and shooting the bodies. Political figures and activists said it was an ‘honour’ killing incident. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said on Sunday that he had directed the provincial police to take immediate action, following which one suspect was apprehended.

Sardar Satakzai is one of the main suspects in the case and was presented before the Quetta ATC on Monday before being handed over to the Serious Crimes Investigation Wing (SCIW) on a two-day physical remand on the judge’s order upon the police’s request.

He was presented in the ATC today before Judge Muhammad Mubeen, who accepted the police request and granted Satakzai’s physical remand for another 10 days, handing him over to the SCIW.

Separately, a video statement of the woman’s mother emerged today in which she defended the incident and said it occurred as per local custom and tradition. She said the decision was taken by a jurga and Satakzai had no role in it, calling for his release.

The Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) strongly condemned the mother’s statement, declaring it contrary to Islamic teachings, as well as the Constitution and law.

The PUC said the remarks suggested that the murder was committed with the consent of the parents, a revelation it termed “deeply disturbing and unacceptable”.

The PUC declared that it was the responsibility of the state, law enforcement agencies, the Balochistan government and the provincial judiciary to take firm action against all those facilitating the perpetrators.

It categorically rejected the parents’ justification, stating that it violated Islamic principles and the Constitution.

Terming the incident both condemnable and tragic, the PUC called for a comprehensive investigation and stressed that justice must be served without delay or negligence. It urged the state to fulfil its constitutional and moral duty by ensuring that all those responsible were brought to justice.

PUC Chairman Tahir Ashrafi further said that the parents did not have the right to forgive the killers or kill their own children.

In Pakistan, ‘honour’ killings continued to claim the lives of women throughout 2024, perpetuated by deeply ingrained societal beliefs about family dignity and shame.

Data from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan shows that in 2024, ‘honour’ killings continued to be a serious issue across Pakistan, with particularly high figures in Sindh and Punjab. From January to November, a total of 346 people fell victim to ‘honour’ crimes in the country.

The previous two years also saw a consistent rise in murders related to the so-called ‘honour’.