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Pakistan News

Mufti Taqi Usmani issues fatwa against cryptocurrency transactions

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Mufti Taqi

KARACHI: Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani, president of Wifaq ul Madaris Al-Arabia Pakistan and Darul Uloom Karachi, has issued a religious ruling declaring that the use of cryptocurrency for purchases is not permissible under Islamic law.

According to the fatwa, Mufti Usmani said that based on the research and opinions of experts available so far, cryptocurrency does not qualify as “mal” (property or wealth) in Islamic jurisprudence but is merely a record of virtual numbers in an account.

He said purchasing goods through cryptocurrency is not permissible, whether using USDT or any other crypto token.

The authenticity of the fatwa was confirmed by Mufti Usmani’s son, Hassan Usmani, who said the ruling circulating publicly was indeed issued by his father.

PM Shehbaz accuses eastern neighbor of backing terrorism in Pakistan

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PM Shehbaz

QUETTA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan’s eastern neighbor is involved in terrorism inside the country, vowing that the government and military would jointly eliminate the militant threat.

Chairing a provincial Apex Committee meeting on the National Action Plan in Quetta, the prime minister said recent terrorist attacks had claimed the lives of police personnel, members of the armed forces and civilians.

The meeting was attended by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the governor and chief minister of Balochistan, as well as federal ministers.

Sharif said security forces had killed 54 militants in recent operations, adding that the campaign would continue until the last militant was eliminated and that the state would thwart their objectives.

He paid tribute to the sacrifices of Pakistan’s armed forces, saying the entire nation stands behind its military.

The prime minister alleged that Pakistan’s eastern neighbor was playing a significant role in fueling terrorism by providing militants with weapons, financial support and other assistance. He also claimed that militants were using Afghan territory to launch attacks in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Sharif said Pakistan’s political and military leadership remained united and fully committed to eradicating terrorism, pledging to employ all available resources to eliminate the militant threat.

Iran’s FM discusses regional developments with Field Marshal Asim Munir

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Iran's FM

ISLAMABAD: Iran has expressed strong concern over recent US military actions, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi holding a telephone conversation with Field Marshal Asim Munir to discuss the evolving regional security situation.

According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, Araghchi condemned the US strikes, describing them as violations of international law, the United Nations Charter, and the spirit of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

During the conversation, the two sides exchanged views on rising regional tensions and the latest security developments.

Araghchi said Iran would not yield to what he described as US aggression and remained committed to defending its sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security.

He warned that any failure by US authorities to honor existing agreements and commitments would reflect the continuation of Washington’s confrontational policies.

The Iranian foreign minister added that if the United States carries out further military action, Iran will exercise its right to self-defense and take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests.

Pakistan army details response to three major Balochistan attacks

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Pakistan army

RAWALPINDI: Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhary said that security forces and law enforcement agencies killed 54 militants following three major attacks in the southwestern province of Balochistan over the past four days, during which 42 security personnel were killed.

At a news conference, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, said the attacks targeted civilians, police and security forces in separate incidents across the province.

According to Chaudhry, the first attack occurred near the Mangi Dam pumping station outside Quetta, where four civilians and nine police personnel were martyred. He said security forces responded by killing 15 militants.

He said a second attack in Ziarat left 18 police personnel martyred, while security forces killed additional militants during ongoing operations in the area.

The third attack targeted a security convoy, martyring 10 security personnel. Chaudhry said 14 militants were killed in the subsequent military response.

The military said operations were also carried out in Kharan and Dalbandin, where additional militants were killed.

Chaudhry accused India of supporting militant groups involved in the attacks and alleged that Afghan nationals made up a majority of the attackers.

 He also accused Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities of providing support to militant groups operating against Pakistan. India has repeatedly denied Pakistani allegations that it backs militant activity inside the country.

He said operations against militants and their alleged facilitators would continue and vowed that Pakistan’s armed forces would pursue those responsible.

Court extends physical remand in alleged kidnapping and rape case

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Court extends

LAHORE: A local court on Wednesday extended by five days the physical remand of four men arrested in connection with the alleged kidnapping and rape of two foreign women, allowing police more time to continue their investigation.

The suspects — Raza Dar, Sikandar Khan, Hassan Raza and Sajid Ali — were produced before Judicial Magistrate Azhar Mahmood after the expiry of their previous remand.

During the hearing, prosecutors requested an additional nine days of police custody, saying investigators still needed to recover a laptop, a vehicle and a weapon allegedly linked to the case.

Lawyers representing Sikandar Khan and Sajid Ali argued that their clients had not been named in the original police complaint and were arrested later based on supplementary statements.

They denied the allegations and claimed the two men had been implicated while the principal suspect had not yet been brought before any court.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the court granted police a five-day extension of the suspects’ physical remand.

The allegations have not been proven in court, and the investigation is ongoing.

COAS Asim Munir says Pakistan will crush cross-border terrorism

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COAS Asim

ISLAMABAD: Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, said Wednesday that cross-border terrorism would be “crushed with the full might of the state,” vowing that Pakistan’s armed forces would continue operations against militant groups and their facilitators.

Speaking to graduating officers of the National Security and War Course at the National Defence University, Munir said the military remained fully aware of what he described as attempts by hostile intelligence agencies to destabilize Pakistan through proxy groups.

He said Pakistan’s armed forces, backed by the nation, would ensure the dismantling of terrorist sanctuaries and the elimination of those providing support to militant groups.

Munir also stressed the importance of strategic foresight and institutional professionalism in addressing evolving security challenges, saying institutions such as the National Defence University play a key role in preparing future military and civilian leaders to confront hybrid and conventional threats.

He added that wars are won through “faith, unity and discipline,” rather than rhetoric or political slogans, and expressed confidence in the operational readiness and morale of Pakistan’s armed forces.

Nine policemen martyred, 15 militants killed after attack on checkpost

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Nine policemen

QUETTA:  Gunmen attacked a police checkpoint in Balochistan province, nine police officers martyred  before security forces launched a clearance operation that authorities said left 15 suspected militants dead.

The attack targeted a police post in the Mangi area of Ziarat district, according to local police.

Ziarat police chief Abdul Qudoos said the bodies of the slain officers had been transferred to the district headquarters hospital.

He said the attackers also abducted five police officers during the assault. Authorities have launched efforts to recover the abducted personnel.

Later, Balochistan government spokesman Shahid Rind said security forces, including the Frontier Corps, police, the Counter Terrorism Department, the Special Operations Wing and the Anti-Terrorism Force, completed a joint clearance operation in the area.

Rind said 15 suspected militants were killed during the operation. The official account of the operation has not been independently verified.

Among the officers killed were the station house officers of the Mangi and Kowas police stations, an Anti-Terrorism Force commander and other police personnel, Rind said.

He added that Deputy Superintendent of Police Ghulam Sarwar and eight other officers safely reached Kach police station, while Constable Rizwan was also rescued.

In a separate statement, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack, expressed condolences to the families of the slain officers and said the assault would not undermine Pakistan’s efforts to restore peace.

Rind said intelligence-based operations against militants would continue and vowed that there would be no safe haven for armed groups in Balochistan.

Pakistan leaders condemn deadly Balochistan attack

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Pakistan leaders

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior Pakistani officials condemned a deadly militant attack on a police checkpoint in Balochistan’s Ziarat district that killed nine police officers.

In separate statements, the leaders paid tribute to the slain officers and praised security forces for killing 15 suspected militants during a subsequent clearance operation.

President Zardari said Pakistan would thwart all attempts to undermine peace and stability in Balochistan.

“We will foil every conspiracy aimed at sabotaging peace and stability in Balochistan,” he said, adding that the state would continue operations against militants with full force.

Prime Minister Sharif said the government would continue its campaign against militants until they were eliminated.

“We will continue the fight against terrorists until they are defeated,” he said.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed condolences to the families of the slain officers and said the attack would not succeed in disrupting peace.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti vowed decisive action against those challenging the authority of the state.

“There is no place in Balochistan for those who take up arms against the state,” Bugti said, adding that those challenging the state’s writ would face defeat.

According to officials, gunmen attacked a police checkpoint in Ziarat, killing nine officers. Security forces later launched a clearance operation in which authorities said 15 suspected militants were killed. The official account of the operation has not been independently verified.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari vows to defend Indus waters

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Bilawal Bhutto

GILGIT: Chairman Pakistan People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday said Pakistan would defend the Indus River and would not compromise on its water rights under the Indus Waters Treaty.

Addressing the swearing-in ceremony of Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain Advocate, Bilawal said he was grateful to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for recognizing the Pakistan Peoples Party’s electoral mandate in Gilgit-Baltistan. He added that the PPP would work with all political parties and ensure opposition members were included in governance.

Bilawal reiterated the party’s commitment to securing constitutional rights for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and said the federal government should ensure the region has representation at the national level.

He also pledged to create an economic environment that generates employment opportunities, promote public-private partnerships in agriculture, and fulfill the PPP’s commitment on land ownership rights.

Commenting on regional security, Bilawal accused Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of adopting what he described as an “Israel model” after India’s military conflict with Pakistan.

He further alleged that India was attempting to create instability in Pakistan through Afghanistan as well as in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. He did not provide evidence to support the claims.

Bilawal also referred to the recent conflict between Israel and Iran, claiming Israel had unsuccessfully sought to foment internal unrest in Iran after the fighting.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s position on water security, Bilawal said the country would defend the Indus River and would not compromise on the Indus Waters Treaty, adding that Pakistan would protect its water rights under all circumstances.

PM directs Pakistani embassies to expand overseas job opportunities for youth

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PM directs

ISLAMABAD:  Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed Pakistani embassies to accelerate efforts to identify overseas employment opportunities for young Pakistanis as part of the government’s strategy to boost skilled workforce exports.

Chairing a meeting to review youth employment initiatives, the prime minister instructed overseas missions to intensify engagement with foreign employers and labor markets to help create more job opportunities for Pakistani workers.

Sharif also ordered the complete digitization of the Protectorate of Emigration system and directed the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission and the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme to ensure the provision of internationally recognized vocational skills and language training programs with certification.

The prime minister said Pakistan’s workforce is highly capable and emphasized that the government is working to improve access to internationally recognized education, training and employment opportunities.

He instructed Pakistani embassies to strengthen mechanisms for sharing information on overseas job openings and labor market requirements, while urging relevant institutions to enhance cooperation with foreign countries to align Pakistani certifications with international standards.

Officials told the meeting that more than 800,000 young people have registered on the government’s Digital Youth Hub platform. They said training programs are underway to prepare Pakistanis for overseas employment and that embassies will upload information on available jobs and required qualifications to the portal.