Category: National

PPP MPA Shahnaz Ansari killed in Naushero Feroz attack

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA Shahnaz Ansari was killed Saturday evening in an attack on her in Sindh’s Naushero Feroz. She was shot thrice while she was in Darya Khan Marri for her brother-in-law’s chehlum. An argument reportedly broke out after which some relatives opened fire at her. The police are not releasing any details about the case yet.

IHC bans physical punishment against children under 12

Islamabad High Court (IHC) bans physical punishment against children under 12. As Article 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) does not categorize the use of corporal punishment against children under 12 as an offense, Chief Justice IHC  has suspended it till further notice. Chief Justice gave the ruling while hearing a petition lodged by singer and human rights activist Shahzad Roy.

ATC sentences Hafiz Saeed to prison for 11 years in two cases

Chief of the outlawed Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) Hafiz Saeed and two others were sentenced to prison for five years and six months each in two cases   by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore. A fine of Rs. 15,000 is also imposed on Saeed, who was arrested by Punjab’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in July last year. 

Three Pakistani students diagnosed with Coronavirus cured

The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan on Wednesday announced that the three Pakistanis, who had been diagnosed with the Coronavirus in the country, have been cured. Last month, Dr Mirza had announced that four Pakistani students in China were tested positive for the coronavirus at a press conference in Islamabad. At that time too, the SAPM had refused to share the names of the affected students with the media.

Second PAF trainer aircraft crashes in less than a week

A trainer aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) crashed near Mardan, making it the second one in less than a week. According to a press release, the PAF trainer aircraft crashed on a routine training mission near Takht Bhai. The pilot safely ejected the aircraft before it fell. Board of inquiry has been ordered by Air Headquarters to determine the cause of accident. 

Imran Khan issues orders for building 40-acre Software City in Islamabad

Prime Minister Imran Khan has reportedly ordered the establishment of a massive 40-acre software city in the country’s capital, Islamabad. In a meeting held with high-profile officials from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications, Khan discussed various ways to strengthen country’s IT sector and shared his vision to boost the nation’s IT exports to $10 billion over the long term. 

FATF Paris meeting to decide Pakistan’s grey list fate

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) will meet in Paris for five days to decide on Pakistan’s grey list fate, staring on February 16. In October 2019, the FATF had decided to keep Pakistan on its grey list till February, giving it time to implement the FATF’s 27-point action plan. Pakistan is on its grey list because of deficiencies in the country’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Terrorist Financing regulations. 

Sale of illegal cigarettes continues unabated in Pakistan

The sale of illegal cigarettes in the country has increased significantly since the imposition of the Federal Excise Duty (FED), according to a quarterly report released by the State Bank of Pakistan. The output of the official cigarette industry declined by 35.5% due to the increase in FED as it pushed the consumers towards cheaper alternatives in the form of counterfeits and cigarettes smuggled from abroad. 

LHC to hear Maryam Nawaz’s ECL plea on 18th

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday fixed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Vice President Maryam Nawaz’s plea seeking her removal from the Exit Control List (ECL) for hearing on February 18. A two-member bench of the LHC headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi will hear the plea. Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh will be the other member of the bench.

NAB summons Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on February 13

NAB has summoned PPP head Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday (February 13) in the Joint Venture Opal 225 case. The bureau’s Rawalpindi branch has asked him to bring all Zardari Group records from 2008 to 2019. He has also been asked for a list of the company’s board of directors. NAB says an on-paper company was used to pull out Rs1.22 billion from fake accounts.