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Shocking new revelations raise questions about police conduct

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Shocking new

KARACHI: The death of a young man named Irfan in police custody at Karachi’s Saddar CIA Center has triggered outrage, with emerging details suggesting he was subjected to brutal torture.

The incident has sparked outrage and raised serious questions about police brutality and accountability. According to reports, Irfan was among four young men taken into custody near Ayesha Manzil and subjected to extreme torture while blindfolded and bound for several hours inside a police mobile before being shifted to the CIA Center.

Suleman, a cousin of the deceased who remains in custody, told media that the detainees were denied water for hours and that Irfan was later moved to another room where he was brutally beaten until his condition deteriorated.

Police sources confirmed multiple torture marks on Irfan’s body, adding that the post-mortem indicated the body was over 36 hours old. Witnesses alleged that even after Irfan lost consciousness, officers continued to beat him and later dragged his body into another room.

Reports further revealed that officers initially attempted to conduct the post-mortem at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC)on Wednesday but failed, later moving the body to a private clinic and back to JPMC  on Thursday evening. After doctors confirmed Irfan’s death, the police personnel allegedly fled the scene.

According to police sources, there were also visible signs of torture on Irfan’s face and back.

Lahore tops global list of most polluted cities

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Lahore tops

KARACHI: Lahore has once again recorded the worst air quality in the world, maintaining its position at the top of the global pollution rankings, while Karachi has moved up to seventh place, according to the latest Air Quality Index (AQI) data.

Data shows that Lahore’s air quality remains at hazardous levels, with particulate matter (PM) concentration recorded at 404, while Karachi’s reading stood at 147, indicating unhealthy air conditions.

Under the AQI scale, pollution levels between 150 and 200 are considered unhealthy, 200 to 300 are categorized as very unhealthy, and readings above 300 denote hazardous air quality.

Meanwhile, India’s capital New Delhi ranked second, and Beijing, the capital of China, secured the third position on the global pollution index.

Experts attribute the worsening air quality to seasonal changes, industrial emissions, heavy traffic, and irresponsible waste disposal practices.

Thailand’s former queen Sirikit passes away at 93

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Thailand’s former

BANGKOK: Thailand’s former Queen Sirikit has passed away at the age of 93, the Royal Palace confirmed on Saturday.

In an official statement, the palace said the late Queen Sirikit was the mother of the current monarch, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, and the widow of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who reigned from 1946 to 2016.

A spokesperson for the Thai government announced that, due to the former queen’s passing, Thailand’s Prime Minister will not attend the ASEAN Summit currently being held in Malaysia.

PM Shehbaz urges regional countries to benefit from CPEC

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PM Shehbaz

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has emphasized the need to strengthen economic and trade linkages across the region to promote peace and development, urging neighboring countries to take advantage of opportunities under the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Addressing the concluding session of the Regional Transport Ministers’ Conference, the prime minister said CPEC is proving to be a transformative initiative for the entire region.

He noted that connecting Gwadar with China’s Xinjiang province is opening new avenues of cooperation in development and the energy sectors. “This collaboration will not only benefit all stakeholders but also reinforce collective efforts for peace and progress,” he remarked.

Prime Minister Shehbaz further stressed that enhanced regional connectivity will revolutionize economic and trade activities. “In today’s era, connectivity is not limited to roads, rail, or air routes — investment in digital infrastructure is equally vital,” he said, adding that Pakistan is investing in this domain to fully harness the benefits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Shan Masood named PCB consultant for players’ affairs

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Shan Masood

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Test team captain Shan Masood has been given an additional key role within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

According to an official statement, the PCB has appointed Shan Masood as Consultant for International Cricketers and Players’ Affairs.

The announcement was made during a dinner hosted in Islamabad by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi for the Pakistan and South Africa teams, which was also attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

During the event, Chairman Mohsin Naqvi formally announced Shan Masood’s new assignment, acknowledging his leadership and international cricketing experience.

Pakistan, Türkiye consider launching ferry service

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Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Türkiye are exploring the possibility of launching a ferry service to enhance maritime connectivity between the two countries.

The development came during a meeting between Pakistan’s Minister for Maritime Affairs, Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, and Türkiye’s Minister of Transport. Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in shipbuilding, maritime operations, and ship-breaking industries.

During the meeting, Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry invited Turkish investors to invest in Gwadar’s maritime and port sectors.

In response, the Turkish side informed him that a delegation of investors would soon visit Pakistan to explore potential opportunities.

Earlier, the federal government has approved the first ferry service licence.

Applications by ferry operators have been pending since 2017 -18. Taking a fast-track route, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs on Monday approved the first ferry service licence to an international ferry operator.

The UK-based company — ‘Sea Keeper’— will operate ferry routes connecting Pakistan with Iran and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

The government is under serious pressure from around one million pilgrims who attend Arbaeen (Chehlum of Imam Hussain) in Karbala, as land travel to Iran has been stopped without any notice recently.

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has led the move by fast-track approval to ferry service operators who had filed applications in 2017 and 2018.

The minister emphasised that ferry service will not only provide the pilgrims going to Iraq and Iran a safe and secure travel but it also provides an opportunity for boosting regional connectivity as well as economic activity via sea routes.

Pakistan, Afghan Taliban to resume key negotiations in Türkiye

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Pakistan

ISTANBUL: The second round of high-level talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban is set to begin in Türkiye on Saturday, focusing on counterterrorism cooperation and border security mechanisms.

The talks aim to establish a robust and verifiable monitoring mechanism to address the growing threat of terrorism.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi and Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid have confirmed that the meeting will be held in Istanbul.

The meeting will focus on establishing a clear, verifiable, and effective monitoring mechanism to counter the threat of terrorism. “Pakistan supports the creation of a robust and credible framework to combat terrorism,” the spokesperson said.

On the other hand, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated that an Afghan delegation, led by Deputy Interior Minister Haji Najib, has departed for Türkiye to participate in the talks.

It is worth noting that the first round of negotiations—mediated by Qatar and Türkiye—was held in Doha, resulting in a temporary ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Dinner turns to drama as rat startles Australian cricketers in Indian hotel

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Australian cricketers

VISAKHAPATNAM:  Members of the Australian women’s cricket team had quite an unexpected moment during dinner at their hotel in Visakhapatnam, where they are staying for the Women’s Cricket World Cup.

According to Indian media reports, the incident occurred when the players spotted a rat running across the dining area. The startled cricketers began shouting and jumped onto their chairs to avoid it.

Hotel staff rushed to the scene and tried to catch the rodent, but it darted around the room, causing further chaos before eventually escaping.

The unusual incident quickly went viral on social media, with fans reacting humorously to the Australian players’ startled response.

Cricket Australia has shared a video capturing the light-hearted chaos that unfolded when members of the Australian women’s cricket team encountered a rat during dinner at their hotel in India.

In the video, the players recount that they had just finished their meal and were about to leave when a rat suddenly appeared. “Everyone said it’s gone — but then it came back out, and that’s when we all screamed,” one player recalled, laughing.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Aussie Women’s Cricket Team (@auswomencricket)

The incident, which occurred at a hotel in Visakhapatnam, has raised questions about the cleanliness and hygiene standards of the hotel’s management, particularly as it accommodates international athletes participating in the Women’s Cricket World Cup.

Pakistan, Qatar pledge stronger partnership across key economic sectors

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Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: In a significant step toward deepening bilateral ties, Pakistan and Qatar have agreed to expand collaboration across multiple sectors, notably energy, agriculture, information technology, tourism, trade, and investment.

The understanding came during a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Qatar’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal bin Thani Al Thani, who is in Pakistan to co-chair the session of the Pakistan-Qatar Joint Ministerial Commission.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of Pakistan-Qatar relations and lauded Qatar’s role as an important partner and influential regional mediator.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister highlighted Pakistan’s investor-friendly policies and emphasized the significance of expanding bilateral cooperation in areas such as energy, agriculture, food security, information technology, tourism, and infrastructure development.

Shahbaz Sharif invited Qatari investors to explore new avenues of cooperation under the SIFC framework.

Sheikh Faisal bin Thani Al Thani expressed good wishes on behalf of the Qatari leadership and the Qatari Minister of Commerce reiterated Qatar’s determination to further strengthen economic ties with Pakistan.

The Prime Minister expressed Pakistan’s appreciation for Qatar’s continuous support on regional and global issues and reiterated Pakistan’s desire to strengthen cooperation at regional and multilateral forums.

The two leaders agreed to maintain close ties to translate common understandings into concrete results.

Teenager from Bahawalpur dies after alleged police torture in Karachi

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Teenager

KARACHI: A tragic incident has emerged from Karachi, where a 16-year-old boy, Muhammad Irfan from Bahawalpur, allegedly lost his life after being subjected to torture while in the custody of CIA Saddar police. Irfan had reportedly traveled to Karachi with three friends for a leisure visit when the group was detained by police under suspicious circumstances.

According to sources, the boys were picked up by police from the Ayesha Manzil area after being deemed “suspicious.” The family claims that the officers subjected the boys to severe torture throughout the night.

“Irfan could not bear the torture and lost his life inside the CIA police station,” the family alleged. They further stated that police personnel left Irfan’s body at Jinnah Hospital and fled the scene.

Two of the surviving boys are currently under treatment at Jinnah Hospital. The incident has triggered widespread outrage, with the family demanding justice and an impartial investigation into the alleged custodial killing.

The case of a young man’s death allegedly due to torture by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) police has taken a grim turn as the victim’s companions came forward with harrowing statements.

The detainees claimed they were kept blindfolded for two days and taken to different locations, continuously facing abuse. “When Irfan died from the torture, they finally removed our blindfolds,” another survivor said.

The deceased, identified as Irfan, was the eldest of five brothers. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for a thorough investigation into alleged custodial abuse by SIU personnel.

In a shocking revelation, a friend of the youth who allegedly died in SIU police custody claimed that they were filming a TikTok video when police officers detained them without explanation.

According to the survivor, “We were making a TikTok video when 2 to 3 police bikes arrived. The officers forced us into their vehicle and took us away. When we asked why, they said we were terrorists, pickpockets, and wanted criminals.”

The victims allege they were blindfolded and brutally beaten for two days while being moved between different locations. One of them, Irfan, succumbed to the alleged torture before the others were released.

In the wake of the alleged custodial death of teenager Muhammad Irfan, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) has suspended seven officials of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU), including three Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs), and ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.

The move follows mounting public outrage after reports surfaced that the 16-year-old from Bahawalpur died as a result of police torture at the CIA Saddar police station. The SSP has assured that strict departmental action will be taken once the inquiry determines responsibility.