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CTD foils major terror plot targeting railway system, five held

CTD foils major

KARACHI: The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), in coordination with an intelligence agency, has foiled a major terror plot targeting the city’s railway infrastructure, arresting five suspected militants.

DIG CTD Ghulam Azfar Mahesar identified the suspects as Jhanoor, Ali Jan, Noor Muhammad, Jamak, and Niaz, stating that explosives, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and weapons were recovered from their possession.

According to officials, the suspects are affiliated with the banned Baloch Republican Guard, which had claimed responsibility for multiple explosions in recent months in Shikarpur and Jacobabad, causing partial damage to railway tracks and train bogies.

During interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed to carrying out several attacks, including railway track bombings in Jacobabad and Shikarpur, as well on the Jaffar Express in Shikarpur on October 7.

Mahesar revealed that the militants received training and explosive materials from Lehri in Balochistan and used family members as cover to transport explosives to evade detection.

Authorities have formed special teams, in collaboration with intelligence agencies, to apprehend facilitators and handlers linked to the network. Officials also claimed that the group was being funded and supported by a neighboring country.

The DIG added that no major terrorist incident occurred in Sindh in 2025, attributing this to the continuous efforts of CTD, police, and other law enforcement agencies.

He further disclosed that large quantities of explosives—up to 2,000 kilograms—along with suicide bombers, including female operatives, linked to the same network had been apprehended in recent operations.

Turkish Fashion Influencer Ayşegül İraslan found dead in Istanbul

Turkish Fashion Influencer

The mysterious death of Turkish fashion influencer Ayşegül İraslan has shocked fans and followers across social media.

According to international media reports, the 27-year-old influencer was found unconscious at her residence in the Kağıthane district of Istanbul on Friday, March 13. She was later pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel.

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A post shared by Ayşegül Eraslan (@aysegulleraslan)

Ayşegül was widely known for her fashion content and travel posts, with over 361,000 followers on Instagram.

Reports suggest that her family became concerned after failing to contact her and eventually alerted authorities when she did not respond. Upon entering the residence, police found her lifeless.

Law enforcement and prosecutors conducted a detailed inspection of the apartment, and the body was shifted to a hospital for forensic examination. Officials stated that the exact cause of death will only be confirmed after the final report.

Initial findings indicate that she had recently returned from an overseas trip. CCTV footage from the building is also being reviewed, reportedly showing a suspicious individual entering and later leaving the premises.

The individual was questioned and later released after recording a statement, with his legal team claiming he was not present at the time of the incident.

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A post shared by Ayşegül Eraslan (@aysegulleraslan)

Authorities have not yet confirmed any criminal involvement, but the case is being treated as suspicious and investigations remain ongoing.

Fatwa issued against Nora Fatehi’s controversial song

Fatwa issued against

Bollywood dancer-actress Nora Fatehi has landed in controversy after a fatwa was issued against her song “Sarke Chunari Teri Sarke.”

The song, featured in the film D: The Devil, also stars veteran actor Sanjay Dutt. Soon after its release on YouTube, it sparked backlash over its allegedly explicit content.

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A post shared by Nora Fatehi (@norafatehi)

Initially, Nora Fatehi issued a clarification stating that an objectionable Hindi version of the song was produced without her consent.

However, the controversy escalated when a fatwa was issued by a senior cleric associated with a Dar- ul- Ifta in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

 The cleric declared the song’s content “haram,” terming it a serious violation of Islamic teachings, and called for action against such material.

On the other hand, authorities also took notice of the matter. India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting reportedly confirmed that the controversial song has been banned.

Dhurandhar 2’ smashes box office records with ₹100+ crore opening day

Dhurandhar 2’

Mumbai: Bollywood’s latest release Dhurandhar: The Revenge has created a massive impact at the box office, earning over ₹100 crore on its opening day and setting new records.

Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film collected an impressive ₹102.55 crore in India on day one, despite being released on a regular working day. Including paid previews worth approximately ₹43 crore, the total opening collection has crossed ₹146 crore.

This marks the biggest opening in Hindi cinema history, surpassing the previous record held by Jawan, which had an opening of ₹64.50 crore.

The film performed exceptionally well in Bengaluru, generating around ₹15 crore on its first day. Despite its lengthy runtime of nearly four hours, it is being screened in over 21,000 shows nationwide.

Special screenings have been arranged in several cinemas, and audience interest remains high despite increased ticket prices.

With this release, Ranveer Singh has secured the biggest opening of his career, further strengthening his box office standing.

With the Eid holiday weekend ahead, the film is expected to set even more records, with projections estimating earnings between ₹325 crore to ₹375 crore over the extended weekend.

Trump, Melania extend Eid-ul-Fitr greetings to American Muslims

Trump

Washington, D.C.: U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have extended warm Eid-ul-Fitr greetings to Muslims across the United States.

In a statement, President Trump described Eid-ul-Fitr as a joyous occasion that brings Muslim communities together.

He said the festival symbolizes family values, social harmony, and religious unity, while also reflecting the fundamental American principle of religious freedom.

The president conveyed heartfelt wishes to all those celebrating, expressing hope for a blessed and joyous Eid.

FIFA Chief Infantino backs on-schedule World Cup 2026

FIFA Chief Infantino

Zurich: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has reaffirmed that the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be held as per its scheduled timeline despite ongoing global tensions.

Infantino stated that FIFA looks forward to all participating teams competing in the World Cup with a spirit of mutual respect.

Expressing solidarity with people affected by war, he said that while FIFA cannot resolve geopolitical conflicts, it remains committed to uniting people and promoting peace through football.

It is worth noting that Iran had requested to shift its World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico, but FIFA rejected the request.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Labuschagne Eager to lead Hyderabad Kings in PSL Season 11

Labuschagne Eager

HYDERABAD: Hyderabad Kings captain Marnus Labuschagne has expressed excitement about leading his team in the upcoming Pakistan Super League Season 11.

In a statement, Labuschagne said he is thrilled to take on the leadership role and is eagerly looking forward to captaining Hyderabad Kings in the new season.

He added that he cannot wait to join the squad and urged fans to come out in support of the team.

The Australian batter also energized supporters by chanting the popular slogan “Ho Jaye Hojamalo.”

It is worth mentioning that PSL Season 11 is scheduled to be played from March 26 to May 3, while the official anthem for the new season is expected to be released on Chand Raat.

Iran’s Supreme Leader says enemy misjudged nation’s strength

Iran’s Supreme Leader

Tehran: Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has said that adversaries gravely miscalculated Iran’s strength and resilience during the recent conflict.

In his message marking the beginning of the Iranian New Year, Khamenei stated that the United States and Israel believed a few days of attacks would trigger an internal uprising and lead to the collapse of the Iranian government. However, he said, those assumptions proved entirely wrong.

He added that the enemy launched the war under the false belief that assassinating senior leadership and key military figures would instill fear among Iranians and pave the way for regime change and the fragmentation of the country.

Instead, he noted, the Iranian people demonstrated extraordinary unity, setting aside religious, ideological, cultural, and political differences.

Khamenei claimed that while Iran grew more united, divisions were emerging within the ranks of its adversaries. He also emphasized that Iranians continued both fasting and resistance simultaneously, asserting that national unity would ultimately force the to back down.

Highlighting regional diplomacy, Khamenei offered to mediate between Pakistan and Afghanistan, stressing that neighboring countries are of great importance to Iran.

He expressed Tehran’s desire for improved relations between the two nations and broader harmony among Muslim countries.

The Iranian leader also rejected allegations of attacks on Turkey and Oman, calling them “false flag” operations, and warned that similar incidents could occur in other countries.

Petrol, diesel price hike expected as government reviews summary

Petrol

ISLAMABAD: The government is expected to announce new petroleum product prices today, with a significant increase under consideration.

According to sources, a summary has been sent to the federal government proposing an increase of Rs29 per litre in petrol and Rs49 per litre in diesel prices. The final decision will be taken by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Sources said the government had previously absorbed a financial burden of Rs23 billion for one week, maintaining petrol and diesel prices from March 14 to 20. This relief was provided under price differential claims.

On March 14, the government had withheld a proposed increase of Rs49.63 per litre in petrol and Rs75.05 per litre in diesel.

However, sources indicate that prices may again be kept unchanged for the coming week, as the government is considering continuing the price differential claim mechanism to shield consumers.

Currently, taxes account for Rs121.77 per litre of petrol, making up around 38% of its price. Diesel includes Rs73.42 per litre in taxes, approximately 22% of its total price. These prices also include customs duties, petroleum levy, and climate support levy.

Gold prices drop Rs24,300 ahead of Eid across Pakistan

Gold prices drop

KARACHI: Gold prices witnessed a significant decline across the country ahead of Eid, according to the All Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Association.

The association reported that the price of gold per tola dropped by Rs 24,300, bringing it down to Rs 499,462.

Similarly, the price of 10 grams of gold decreased by Rs 20,833, settling at Rs 428,208.

In the international market, gold prices also fell by $243 per ounce, bringing the rate down to $4,767.