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Pakistan News

PM Shehbaz meets Qatar’s emir, offers condolences on death of ex-ruler

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PM Shehbaz

DOHA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during a visit to Doha, where he conveyed Pakistan’s condolences over the death of former Qatari emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

Sharif paid tribute to the late emir’s visionary leadership and his contributions to regional peace, stability and development.

He also recalled Sheikh Hamad’s several visits to Pakistan and reaffirmed Islamabad’s solidarity with Qatar’s leadership and people during their time of mourning.

The Emir of Qatar thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the Pakistani delegation for traveling to Doha in person to offer condolences, describing the gesture as a reflection of the close ties between the two countries.

The meeting was attended by Nawaz Sharif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and other senior Pakistani officials.

Earlier, upon his arrival in Doha, the Pakistani delegation was received by Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Prime Minister Shehbaz returned to Pakistan after concluding the one-day visit.

Constitutional Court overturns demolition order for Monal Restaurant

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Constitutional Court

ISLAMABAD: Constitutional Court set aside a previous order to demolish the Monal Restaurant in Islamabad’s Pir Sohawa area, allowing legal proceedings over the property’s ownership and regulatory status to continue.

The court accepted appeals filed by the Capital Development Authority> (CDA) and the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad, while also vacating an interim stay order related to the case.

In its ruling, the court said questions regarding ownership of the property would be decided by the relevant trial courts without being influenced by judicial observations made in earlier proceedings. It added that administrative and regulatory matters should be determined by the competent regulatory authorities.

The Constitutional Court also directed the trial courts to dispose of the pending cases as expeditiously as possible.

During the hearing, Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi remarked that several aspects had not been adequately considered in the earlier Supreme Court judgment and emphasized that the Constitutional Court would decide the matter on legal grounds rather than emotion.

Following the proceedings, the Constitutional Court formally annulled the earlier decision ordering the demolition of Monal Restaurant.

Young doctor shot dead in Karachi bank robbery

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Young doctor

KARACHI: A 28-year-old doctor was killed in a shooting during a daylight bank robbery outside a private bank in Karachi’s Clifton area, where armed robbers escaped with Rs2.5 million in cash, police said Monday.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) South Mahzoor Ali said the victim, identified as Dr. Akash, had withdrawn Rs5 million with his father and an associate from a private bank near Teen Talwar. The group was on its way to deposit the money at another bank in the Boat Basin area when armed assailants intercepted their vehicle outside the bank.

Police said a security guard opened fire on the robbers, who returned fire during the exchange. Dr. Akash was fatally struck in the crossfire, while the suspects escaped with one of the two cash bags containing Rs2.5 million. The security guard has been taken into custody as part of the investigation.

The administration of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre mourned the death of Dr. Akash, describing him as a dedicated, hardworking and highly committed house officer. A hospital spokesperson said he had recently been selected as a Medical Officer through the latest commission examination and was awaiting a posting at JPMC.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah took notice of the killing and ordered the immediate arrest of those responsible. He directed Karachi’s additional inspector general of police to submit a detailed investigation report and ensure the swift apprehension of the suspects.

“There will be no compromise on law and order,” Murad Ali Shah said, instructing police to intensify efforts against street crime and armed robberies while expressing condolences to the victim’s family.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Medical Association condemned the killing, calling it evidence of the deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi. The association said the loss of the young doctor was not only a tragedy for his family but also a significant loss for Pakistan’s medical community.

FIA offloaded nearly 40,000 passengers over three years

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FIA offloaded

ISLAMABAD: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) offloaded 39,786 passengers from international flights over the past three years following stricter immigration screening introduced after the 2023 Libya boat tragedy, according to official documents.

The documents state that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered enhanced scrutiny at airports after the deadly migrant boat disaster, prompting the FIA to intensify checks on outbound passengers nationwide.

According to the records, 20,408 passengers were stopped from traveling due to incomplete or missing travel documents. Another 12,673 were offloaded because of low-profile or suspicious travel plans that raised concerns during immigration screening.

FIA sources said many of those passengers appeared financially unable to undertake international travel or had no prior travel history, despite plans to visit destinations such as Saudi Arabia for Umrah, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates or Thailand. Officials said such travel patterns raised suspicions of potential human smuggling or irregular migration.

The documents further showed that 3,450 passengers were prevented from traveling because their names appeared on stop lists or were subject to Interpol restrictions.

Another 505 were offloaded due to questionable travel routes, while 281 were stopped for allegedly carrying forged or fraudulent documents, including fake visas or counterfeit employment-related paperwork.

In addition, the FIA offloaded 176 passengers over irregular travel histories, 145 for document verification, 258 because they were underage, and 24 who were suspected of seeking overseas employment while traveling on visit visas.

PVARA Chief calls for continued dialogue on digital assets

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PVARA Chief

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) Chairman Bilal Bin Saqib said he held a constructive and productive meeting with Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani to discuss digital assets and the ongoing debate surrounding their status under Islamic law.

In a statement posted on X, Bilal said both he and Mufti Taqi Usmani shared a common objective of protecting the people of Pakistan from fraud, exploitation and financial loss as the country develops its approach to emerging digital financial technologies.

During the meeting, Bilal said he emphasized that blockchain technology, digital assets, stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets represent a diverse range of technologies and should not be assessed through a single lens. Instead, he said, each category requires detailed technical analysis alongside a comprehensive Shariah evaluation.

He added that the digital asset ecosystem is evolving rapidly, making continuous consultation between Islamic scholars, regulators and industry experts essential to developing policies that are both consistent with Islamic principles and informed by a sound understanding of modern technologies.

The meeting followed the recent issuance of Mufti Taqi Usmani’s fatwa on cryptocurrency. According to the ruling, cryptocurrencies do not qualify as “wealth” (mal) under Islamic jurisprudence but are merely digital entries in accounts. The fatwa further states that purchasing goods with cryptocurrencies, including USDT and other crypto tokens, is not permissible under the scholar’s interpretation of Islamic law.

Hassan Usmani, the son of Mufti Taqi Usmani, confirmed that the widely circulated ruling on cryptocurrency was issued by the senior Islamic scholar.

Seven more militants killed in Balochistan operation, toll rises to 64

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Seven more

ISLAMABAD: Security forces have killed seven more suspected militants during the ongoing Operation Shaban in Balochistan, bringing the total number of militants killed in the operation to 64, according to security sources.

The operation, launched after the attack on the Mangi Dam police checkpoint, is being carried out jointly by security forces and police against militants the Pakistani government refers to as Fitna al-Khawarij. Security sources said air and ground operations remain underway across the affected areas.

According to the sources, a total of 102 suspected militants have been killed in Operation Shaban and other intelligence-based operations conducted in the province.

Security officials said the operation would continue until all militants operating in the area are eliminated.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi commended the security forces for their role in the operation.

Naqvi said terrorism must be eradicated completely, adding that those seeking to undermine peace would not be allowed safe havens anywhere in the country.

Constitutional court withdraws apex court orders in Nasla Tower case

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Constitutional court

ISLAMABAD: Federal Constitutional Court has set aside the Supreme Court’s 2018 and 2019 orders that led to the demolition of Karachi’s Nasla Tower, ruling that action against illegal constructions primarily falls within the jurisdiction of provincial authorities rather than the judiciary.

In its judgment, the court said the Supreme Court had gone beyond the scope of the case before it by issuing broader directions.

It held that demolition orders could not be based solely on reports submitted by the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) without fulfilling due process requirements guaranteed under the Constitution.

The Constitutional Court emphasized that courts should confine themselves to resolving disputes before them and avoid unnecessary intervention in administrative matters.

It said the objective of the ruling was not to legalize unauthorized constructions but to ensure that enforcement actions are carried out in accordance with the law.

The judgment noted that Sindh already has a legal framework and competent institutions to deal with illegal buildings.

 It said the Sindh government and relevant authorities are constitutionally and legally responsible for monitoring unauthorized construction and taking appropriate action.

The court formally withdrew the Supreme Court’s orders dated Dec. 21, 2018, and Jan. 22, 2019, along with actions taken under those directives.

In an additional note, Justice Syed Arshad Hussain Shah stressed that protecting citizens’ fundamental rights and preserving public spaces is a primary responsibility of the state.

 He said parks, playgrounds, green belts, footpaths, beaches and other public areas must be safeguarded from illegal encroachments and unauthorized alterations.

Forces kill more suspected militants in Balochistan operation, officials say

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Forces kill

ISLAMABAD: Security forces have killed four more suspected militants during the ongoing Operation Shaaban in Balochistan, bringing the total number of militants killed in the operation to 43, according to security sources.

The operation, launched in the aftermath of the attack on the Mangi Dam police station, is being carried out jointly by the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps (FC) and Balochistan Police. Security officials said the latest operations targeted suspected militant hideouts in rugged mountainous terrain.

Security sources also said an attack on a police station in the Khuzdar area was repelled earlier on Friday.

They reported that eight suspected militants were killed during the ground operation, while another five to six were believed to have been killed in helicopter-assisted operations.

According to the officials, 26 suspected militants had already been killed during operations conducted on July 6 and 7, as security forces tightened the cordon around militant positions in remote areas.

Security sources added that since July 5, a total of 75 suspected militants have been killed in Operation Shaaban and other intelligence-based operations across Balochistan.

President Asif Ali Zardari praised the security forces, saying hostile elements using proxy groups against Pakistan would not succeed in their objectives. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also commended the military and police, vowing that operations would continue until militant groups are eliminated and peace is restored in Balochistan.

WB approves $375.9m loan for Pakistan’s power grid modernization

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WB approves

ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has approved a $375.9 million loan for Pakistan to support the first phase of a 10-year energy program aimed at modernizing the country’s electricity transmission network and improving power supply reliability.

According to the World Bank, the financing will be used to upgrade the national power grid, helping reduce electricity outages, strengthen transmission infrastructure, and improve the overall efficiency of the power system.

The project is expected to enable the integration of an additional 640 megawatts of wind power into the national grid, supporting Pakistan’s transition to renewable energy. The upgraded transmission network is also expected to lower electricity delivery costs and improve service for residential, commercial, and industrial consumers.

The World Bank said the program will make Pakistan’s power system more resilient to climate change while supporting the government’s ongoing power sector reforms.

The project is projected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 832,000 metric tons annually through greater use of clean energy and a more efficient transmission system.

The initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s energy infrastructure, improve grid stability, and increase the share of renewable energy in the country’s electricity mix.

Karachi court sentences man to death twice in anchor murder case

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Karachi court

KARACHI: A district court in Karachi has sentenced the main accused, Atif Zaman, to death on two counts in the 2019 murder case of television anchor Mureed Abbas and his friend Khizar Hayat.

The verdict was delivered by the Additional District and Sessions Court (South), which announced its decision seven years after the case was filed. Proceedings were conducted at the Judicial Complex inside Karachi Central Jail.

The court found Atif Zaman guilty of murdering Abbas and Hayat and ordered him to pay compensation of Rs500,000 to the legal heirs of each victim.

In addition to the death sentences, the court sentenced Zaman to seven years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs50,000 for possessing illegal weapons.

The court also issued permanent arrest warrants for absconding co-accused Adil Zaman and directed authorities to continue legal proceedings against him.

Adil Zaman was declared a proclaimed offender after fleeing following the rejection of his bail plea by Pakistan’s Supreme Court.

Television anchor Mureed Abbas and Khizar Hayat were shot dead in Karachi on July 9, 2019.