Security forces killed four terrorists who attempted to storm the Pakistan Stock Exchange compound in Karachi in a gun and grenade attack on Monday morning. One sub-inspector and two security guards were martyred in the attack. Seven people, including three police officials, have also been injured. The attack has been attributed to the Balochistan Liberation Army outfit.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani has approved arrangements of collective sacrifice during Eidul Azha with the assistance of non-profit organisations. Shallwani asked the organisations to make arrangements for online booking and dispatching of meat due to the COVID-19 pandemic. People could also obtain their meat from zonal offices of these organisations.
Kuwait airlines has reportedly grounded 7 Pakistani pilots and 56 engineers amid chaos surrounding dubious credentials of Pakistani pilots. Lists of Pakistani pilots engineers and ground handling staff have been prepared by Qatar, Oman and Vietnam airlines as well. Decision has been taken to keep Pakistani staff grounded unless the report about them is received from Pakistan authorities.
Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah recently made a shocking revelation stating that Munawar Hasan, Mufti Naeem and Allama Talib Jauhari all had died from coronavirus. The three renowned clerics, all passed away within a week. The clerics were all reported to have died in hospitals while getting treatment for certain health conditions, and thousands of followers attended the funerals.
Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, has taken notice of luxury vehicles being imported by the Sindh government. During the hearing of coronavirus sou motu case, Justice Gulzar said that the Sindh government does not have funds for cleaning drains of Karachi. However, they are buying luxury vehicles worth Rs. 4 billion. The cost of each vehicle is Rs. 11.6 million.
The Emirates airline has announced that it will be resuming flight operations in Pakistan, however, travelers will be required to produce a negative PCR test. The flight operations from Pakistan and seven other countries will be resumed from June 30th. The airline recently suspended its services after 26 people from a flight from Pakistan tested positive in Hong Kong.
Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar has announced that 262 pilots would be barred from flying because of ‘dubious’ credentials. The pilots in the line of fire include 141 from Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), 10 from Serene Airline and nine from Air Blue. Others belong to flying clubs or chartered plane services. In total, there are 860 pilots in the country, 753 pilots serving locally and 107 in foreign ones.
Footage of Prime Minister Imran Khan calling slain al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden a martyr has gone viral, especially in India where their official propaganda machine has gone into an overdrive to malign Pakistan. However, the premier merely misspoke as has been clarified by his spokesperson. Special assistant to PM, Dr Shahbaz Gill denounced an “unwarranted attempt” to create a controversy.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Thursday expressed concern over the ‘serious lapse in the licensing and safety oversight by the aviation regulator’ in Pakistan. The international body’s comments came after the federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan in the National Assembly declared that 150 pilots of the national flag carrier had fake licences.
The Religious Affairs Ministry of Pakistan has decided to return the money of this year’s successful applicants of government’s Hajj scheme. Imran Siddiqui, the ministry’s spokesperson said that an emergency meeting was convened to discuss the mechanism after Saudi Arabia’s plans to host the pilgrimage in closed borders. Only 1000 pilgrims residing in the Kingdom will be allowed to perform Hajj this year.