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CBI seeks to restore Interpol red notice on Choksi

A case was registered against Mehul Choksi and others on February 15, 2018 for defrauding Punjab National Bank….reports Asian Lite News

The Interpol had earlier on several occasions dismissed the plea of fugitive criminal diamantaire Mehul Choksi who is wanted in Rs 13,000 crore fraud case in Punjab National Bank, the CBI said in a statement.

“Facing possibilities of imminent extradition from Antigua and Barbuda, Choksi again with a view to create diversions from the ongoing process and derail the ongoing extradition proceedings, with false claims, concocted dramatic stories and imaginary narratives, approached various international forums and also approached Commission for Control of Interpol’s Files (CCF) in July 2022 to revise its earlier decision of 2020. CCF consulted the CBI and the ED on the matter and the factual situation on the narrative of Choksi being wholly unsubstantiated and without an iota of evidence were put forth to the CCF. It was clarified that Choksi had been making all possible attempts to derail ongoing extradition proceedings in Antigua and Barbuda, to evade the process of law in India,” the agency stated.

“However, based on mere imaginary conjunctures and unproven surmises, a five member CCF chamber has taken a decision on deletion of Red Notice, communicated in November, 2022. Thereafter, CBI has taken up with CCF the serious shortcomings, procedural violations, overreach of mandate and mistakes committed by CCF in the manner of reaching this unfounded and perfunctory decision,” said a senior CBI official.

A case was registered against Mehul Choksi and others on February 15, 2018 for defrauding Punjab National Bank. The CBI has already filed two charge sheets in the case against Choksi and others under sections 120-B read with 409, 420, 477A, 201 of IPC and sections 7 & 13(2) read with 13(1)(c)&(d) of PC Act.

In 2022, the CBI registered five more criminal cases against Choksi and others for defrauding banks and financial institutions.

“The CBI as National Central Bureau for Interpol had issued a diffusion to locate Choksi in February 2018. The movements of the criminal were tracked by the CBI in close direct coordination with foreign law enforcement agencies and he was geo-located to Antigua and Barbuda. Extradition request against Choksi was sent through diplomatic channels to competent authorities of Antigua and Barbuda in August 2018,” the official said.

In 2018, Choksi approached CCF making a request for non-publication of Red Notice. CCF is a separate body within Interpol that is not under the control of Interpol Secretariat and is mainly staffed by elected lawyers from different countries. CCF had studied his request and consulted the CBI. CCF dismissed representation of Choksi and Interpol published a Red Notice.

Interpol published a Red Notice against Choksi in December 2018 on request of the CBI and the ED. This was subsequent to geo-location by the CBI of wanted criminal and subsequent to initiation of extradition request. The purpose of a Red Notice issued by Interpol was to seek location of a wanted person and to seek their detention, arrest or restriction of movement for purpose of extradition, surrender or similar action.

“It may be noted that Choksi was already located prior to publication of Interpol Red Notice and steps also initiated for his extradition. Although the primary purpose of Red Notice was already achieved, the same was retained as a precautionary measure.

As the extradition proceedings against Choksi were proceeding in Antigua and Barbuda, Choksi had been approaching various international forums with fully concocted and imaginary narratives to create diversions. In 2019, Choksi again approached CCF seeking removal of Red Notice. CCF studied his request, consulted the CBI and based on inputs, again in 2020, dismissed his plea,” the CBI said.

Later on, when he again reached the Interpol and concerned authorities, a decision was taken in his favour.

Thereafter, CBI took up with CCF the serious shortcomings, procedural violations, overreach of mandate and mistakes committed by CCF in the manner of reaching this unfounded and perfunctory decision. CBI continues to exercise available remedial and appellate options within Interpol for rectification of this faulty decision and for restoration of Red Notice. CBI pointed out that even Antigua authorities consider there is sufficient evidence to substantiate that the applicant concealed material facts or made false representation when he applied for his Antigua and Barbuda citizenship, a fact which reflects on previous conduct of this criminal.

CCF has subsequently clarified to CBI that its decision in no manner has any determination on any guilt or innocence of Mehul Chinubhai Choksi for crimes he remains charged in India. CCF has reiterated that it has not established factual certainties and there is no factual finding in their decision that Choksi will not have fair trial. Based on new information and serious errors in the decision, CBI is taking steps for the decision of CCF to be revised.

The CBI remains in active communication with CCF and other bodies in Interpol in an ongoing process relating to this case.

It may be noted that an Interpol Red Notice is neither a pre requisite nor a requirement for extradition proceedings. The Global Operations Centre of CBI continues to closely monitor movements of wanted criminals like Mehul Choksi in close direct coordination with foreign law enforcement agencies and not reliant only on Interpol channels. Extradition request made by India is under active consideration before authorities in Antigua and Barbuda and remains fully unimpacted by Red Notice related communications with Interpol.

The CBI remains committed seeking return of fugitives and criminals to India to face process of criminal justice. Systematic steps have been initiated in close coordination with foreign law enforcement agencies for geo-locating and return of wanted criminals and economic offenders. In the last 15 months, over 30 wanted criminals have returned to India.

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Trump won’t testify in Stormy Daniels case

The Manhattan District Attorney’s office reportedly informed Trump last week of his right to testify before the grand jury…reports Asian Lite News

Former US President Donald Trump will not appear before the Manhattan grand jury probing a “hush-money” payment made to an adult film actress, his lawyer said.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s office reportedly informed Trump last week of his right to testify before the grand jury, reports Xinhua news agency.

The investigation concerns whether Trump falsified business records in connection with the payment made to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.

The hush money was allegedly used to prevent Daniels from saying that she had an affair with Trump.

“We have no plans on participating in that proceeding,” Trump’s attorney Joe Tacopina told ABC News on Monday.

Asked whether the former President authorised the $130,000 payment made to Daniels days before the 2016 election, Tacopina said: “It’s not directly related. Let’s assume he did, for this argument. This was a plain extortion. I don’t know when we started prosecuting extortion victims.

“He (Trump) has vehemently denied this affair. But he had to pay money because there was going to be an allegation that was going to be publicly embarrassing to him, regardless of the campaign.”

Trump has repeatedly denied allegations of wrongdoing in connection with the payment, which was negotiated by his former attorney Michael Cohen.

Cohen, who pleaded guilty in federal court in 2018 of making the illegal payment to Daniels, testified before the Manhattan grand jury on Monday afternoon.

“My goal is to tell the truth. I’m just here to answer the questions,” he added.

Earlier, Trump reacted with a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, calling it a witch hunt and denying the affair with the porn star.

“I did absolutely nothing wrong, I never had an affair with Stormy Daniels, nor would I have wanted to have an affair with Stormy Daniels,” whom he described as “horse face”, he said.

“This is a political Witch-Hunt, trying to take down the leading candidate, by far, in the Republican Party while at the same time also leading all Democrats in the polls, including Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,” he posted.

ALSO READ: Trump may be charged in Stormy Daniels case

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Imran booked in 76 cases across Pakistan

While Khan stands as the most popular political figure in the country at large, his popularity graph has started to feel the heat of decline because the ruling government has piled up dozens of legal cases against him…reports Hamza Ameer

Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has been surrounded with a towering pile of files, paperwork and corresponding court proceedings as he struggles to mount pressure on the incumbent government led by his successor Shehbaz Sharif to announce early elections.

Currently, Khan has over 76 cases registered against him across the county, which are believed to be the way forward for the Sharif government to tackle the former premier’s glaring public support and popularity.

Since his ouster from office in a no-confidence vote last April, Khan, also chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has been on the streets protesting against his ouster, which he has termed it as a pre-planned US-backed regime change operation against his government.

And while public support on his regime change narrative has been strongly backed by strong social media campaigns, over 80 public rallies and gatherings, public addresses through video links and consistent demand of holding early elections in the country; it would not be wrong to state that Pakistan has not seen over 24 hours pass without any discussion, address, statement or a debate about Khan and his regime change narrative.

While Khan stands as the most popular political figure in the country at large, his popularity graph has started to feel the heat of decline because the ruling government has piled up dozens of legal cases against him with charges of corruption, terrorism, treason, hate speech, incitement to violence and anti-state speeches.

The government seems to have targeted the PTI chief from all legal means.

From non-declaration of his love child Terrian White, sale of gifts from various heads of states to Khan during his premiership, prohibited funding case, contempt of court case, attack on Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) case to hate speech, incitement to violence and unwarranted accusations on state institutions.. the former premier certainly has his hands full when it comes to legal the legal battles at his doorstep.

Among the many cases being heard in the court, Khan’s non-bailable arrest warrants have been issued by Islamabad’s Anti-Terror Court (ATC) and by a session court in Quetta, Balochistan.

He has been called in by the courts to appear before the judges repeatedly. However, his reluctance or refusal to go to court in cases against is linked with his recovery phase after his bullet injury and also with what his party leaders and legal representatives maintain as lack of security at a time when Khan himself has repeatedly stated that there are clear and serious threats to his life.

On the other hand, the Shehbaz Sharif government is well aware that they have to go into elections sooner or later. And in order for them to stand a chance in competing and winning the elections, Khan’s popularity, his political standing and his narrative needs to be cut in size and impact.

It is a common understanding among experts that the PML-N and its coalition political partners want to ensure that Khan gets disqualified in legal cases against him gets ruled out of the political race for the next general elections.

And that can be done through verdicts in the Toshakhana case, in which, Khan and his wife are accused of illegally getting gifts out of the Toshakhana and selling them off to the local market at high price, after deliberately getting them evaluated at less cost and later paying only 20 per cent of its established value.

It is also believed that Khan’s foreign funding case is also something, whose verdict may see him going to prison and being disqualified from the political race as PTI chief may find himself in hot water for issuing wrong declarations to justify his party’s foreign aka prohibited funding from various individuals, organisations and entities abroad.

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Trump may be charged in Stormy Daniels case

Trump reacted with a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, calling it a witch hunt and denying the affair with the porn star…writes Arul Louis

Throwing a huge question mark over the 2024 election, former President Donald Trump may be criminally charged in connection with hush money he allegedly paid to silence Stormy Daniels, an adult film star, who said she had an affair with him, according to news reports.

A city prosecutor has “signalled” Trump’s lawyers that he could face criminal charges in the 2016 incident, The New York Times reported on Thursday evening citing unnamed sources.

NBC news also reported quoting his lawyers that Trump had been asked to appear before a grand jury investigating the case, which is usually an indication that an indictment or framing of charges was likely.

But he is not obligated to appear before the grand jury.

Trump reacted with a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, calling it a witch hunt and denying the affair with the porn star.

“I did absolutely nothing wrong, I never had an affair with Stormy Daniels, nor would I have wanted to have an affair with Stormy Daniels,” whom he described as “horse face”, he said.

“This is a political Witch-Hunt, trying to take down the leading candidate, by far, in the Republican Party while at the same time also leading all Democrats in the polls, including Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,” he posted.

Public prosecutors in New York are elected officials and Alvin Bragg won as a Democrat.

It is now a race between Bragg and prosecutors in Georgia, where a grand jury has reportedly recommended filing charges against Trump for interfering with the 2020 elections by allegedly trying to pressure state officials to “find” more votes for him.

Bragg had convened a grand jury — a citizens’ panel — to investigate the allegations against Trump and decide if charges should be filed.

Under the legal system in the US, that is the first step in criminal cases and it is followed by the trial where a jury, also made up of citizens, hears the case under a judge and gives a verdict unless the accused asks to dispense with the jury and have the judge decide.

Being charged, standing trial or even convicted would not disqualify Trump from running for President under the US Constitution.

But the filing of charges and an eventual trial could come in the way of him getting the Republican Party’s nomination to run for president.

He could, however, still run as a third-party candidate or an independent — which would mean a defeat for the Republican candidate.

The charges he could face make a convoluted link to the payoff to Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.

The primary accusation against Trump is that he gave a former lawyer $130,000 in 2016 during the election campaign to pay off the porn star and showed it as a lawyer’s fee which would be a violation of the law regarding business records.

Related to that is a possible violation of election laws if the payment is construed as an illegal election contribution, compounding the first accusation.

The lawyer, Michael Cohen, was convicted in a federal trial in connection with the payoff and served prison time.

If he were to be charged, it would be the ultimate test of Trump’s boast: “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters.:

Already many Republicans are against Trump running in 2024.

If in a travesty for the Republican Party, Trump runs for the nomination defying the indictments, he could cast himself as a martyr and count on his personal supporters.

It is estimated from various polls that Trump has the hardcore personal support of about 30 per cent of the Republican Party — those standing by him despite the 2020 defeat and the 2022 reverses for his handpicked candidates, and who subscribe to his claims that he was the real winner in the election against President Joe Biden.

The participants in the January 6, 2021, protests near the Capitol, which led to a riot with some breaking away and invading the building housing Congress, are from this group.

Unless the rest of the party unifies behind a single candidate, Trump could still come ahead with the opposition votes split.

In that scenario, he would have an even tougher uphill battle than in 2020 running against the Democratic Party candidate, who most likely would be Biden.

But if he fails to get the Republican nomination, Trump could play the spoiler and bring down the party’s candidate with a third party run.

In the 1992 election that brought Bill Clinton to power, the sitting Republican President, George H.W. Bush, lost because of Ross Perot, a conservative who ran as a candidate of the Reform Party that grew out of grassroots support for him.

There is a precedent for a convict running for president from prison.

Eugene Debs, a Socialist trade union leader, ran from prison in the 1920 presidential election after being convicted of sedition for opposing compulsory military service in case of war.

He lost, but polled nearly 1 million votes.

There is, however, one constitutional bar to candidates running for office: participating in an insurrection or rebellion against the government.

That would require Trump’s conviction in connection with the Capitol riots, which some Democrats want to see.

But that is a very remote possibility.

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Imran dodges arrest in Toshakhana case

When the Islamabad Police arrived at Imran Khan’s residence, they found a horde of PTI supporters along with party leaders saying PTI chief was “unavailable”…reports Asian Lite News

PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday dodged arrest as Islamabad Police showed up at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore with court summons to take him into custody for his persistent absences from Toshakhana court hearings, media reports said.

The 70-year-old former Prime Minister, who has been recovering from a gunshot injury from an assassination attempt last year, has thrice skipped indictment hearings in an Islamabad sessions court in the case, Dawn reported.

When the Islamabad Police along with their Punjab Police counterparts arrived at Imran Khan’s residence just after noon on Sunday, they found a horde of PTI supporters along with party leaders, and were informed that the PTI chief was “unavailable”, it said.

With PTI workers outnumbering the police contingent, and despite Islamabad police chief earlier saying that they won’t go back empty-handed, the arrest could not be made.

As Imran Khan’s whereabouts were debated upon, he ended the hours-long mystery by addressing a televised party event right from the Zaman Park residence.

Addressing the crowd of PTI loyalists, he said he had never “bowed before any man or institution, and will never let you do so as well”.

Imran Khan said he had called the public to Zaman Park to pay tribute to them for the way they participated in the ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’ (court arrest movement). “I did not call you for my support but to thank you,” he added, Dawn reported.

He is accused of concealing, in his assets declarations, details of the gifts he retained from the Toshakhana – a repository where presents handed to government officials from foreign officials are kept. Officials are legally allowed to retain gifts provided they pay a pre-assessed amount, typically a fraction of the value of the gift, Dawn reported.

In a series of tweets on Sunday, the Islamabad Police said an operation to arrest Imran was being conducted with the cooperation of the Lahore police.

It stated that the PTI chief was “avoiding” arrest, adding that the Superintendent of Police had “gone into Imran’s room but he was not present there”, Dawn reported.

ALSO READ: Pak police at Imran’s residence to arrest him

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Biden sides with GOP on new D.C. crime laws

For the first time in 30 years, the President’s signature would allow Congress to overturn a D.C. decision…reports T.N. Ashok

US President Joe Biden said he will sign off on a Republican-backed resolution that seeks to override Washington’s District of Columbia’s new controversial crime laws on sentencing.

Initially, the Biden administration had some reservations on the Republican resolution on grounds of Congressional intervention in the laws.

The District of Columbia has sought to rewrite the crime laws on the period of sentencing for crimes.

For the first time in 30 years, the President’s signature would allow Congress to overturn a D.C. decision.

“I support D.C. statehood and home-rule,” Biden said in a statement.

“But I don’t support some of the changes D.C. Council put forward over the mayor’s objections — such as lowering penalties for carjacking. If the Senate votes to overturn what D.C. Council did � I’ll sign it,” the USA today quoted the President as saying.

What actually led to the D.C. rewriting the laws for reducing sentences for specific offences?

Late last year, the D.C. City Council approved a new local criminal code that includes the elimination of mandatory minimum sentences for many crimes and the reduction of maximum sentences for crimes such as robbery and burglary, media reports said.

The Council overrode a veto from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who has expressed serious concerns over reduction of sentences for crimes.

The local ordinance’s passage has been in the works for almost two decades to redo D.C.’s crime laws. Republicans were quick to oppose it.

In recent years, they have been very critical of Democrats going soft on crime. Washington reportedly had its highest number of murders in 2022 in nearly 20 years, the reports said.

Some 31 Democrats crossed the floor joining republicans to vote against the new legislation which is expected to secure bipartisan support in the Senate that could happen as early as next week.

Under the US Constitution, Congress is vested with powers to overturn local D.C. legislation.



Biden’s rejection of the new law and some Democrats’ decision to override it is an about turn on the White House Office of Management statement on February 6 this year, that “Congress should respect the District of Columbia’s autonomy to govern its own local affairs”.

It was indeed a major political dilemma for President Biden to oppose his own partymen.

He was faced with a political question on whether to let the resolution become law or veto it and face criticism that he was going soft on crime during the 2024 presidential election. Obviously, it was a shrewd political decision to go against the latter option.

Biden, had been distancing himself from the “defund the police” campaign of the left.

If he had penned the D.C. legislation, he would have been the but end of Republican propaganda in an election year of 2024.

The question is whether Biden’s decision will please many activists who have been trying to influence him to introduce police and justice reforms in the country.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre did some tight rope walking with reporters on the issue when she said Biden believes every city “has the right to self-government” but also wants to keep communities safe.

“This is different,” Jean-Pierre said. “The D.C. Council put changes forward over the mayor’s objections, and the president doesn’t support changes like lowering penalties for carjacking.”

The Republican sponsor Senatir Bill Hagerty from Tennessee was quite happy with Biden’s decision.

“I hope these reports are true and that President Biden is no longer threatening to veto my common sense resolution to block the soft-on-crime DC Crime Bill. Reducing violent crime should not be controversial.”

ALSO READ: ‘Trump can be sued for Jan. 6 riot harm’

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Blast rocks Pak’s Balochistan, kills 4

Officials confirmed that the blast occurred when an improvised explosive device (IED), planted on a motorcycle…reports Asian Lite News

At least four people were killed and 14 wounded in an explosion inside the Rakhni market in Barkhan in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Sunday morning, police and health officials said, local media reported.

Barkhan District Health Officer Dr Abdul Hameed confirmed the death toll adding that the injured persons were rushed to the Rakhni Hospital, Dawn reported.

According to Barkhan Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Khoso, the blast occurred when an improvised explosive device (IED), planted on a motorcycle, exploded, Dawn reported.

Khoso said the police have arrived at the site and cordoned it off. “Teams have begun collecting evidence from the site,” he added.

Unverified videos making the rounds on social media show volunteers carrying bloodied victims away as a crowd gathers at the purported site of the blast. Mangled motorcycles and charred vegetables can be seen strewn about on the road, Dawn reported.

There was no claim of responsibility as yet.

The blast comes on the heels of attacks in KP and areas bordering Afghanistan. Since the talks with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) broke down in November last year, the militant group has intensified its attacks while insurgents in Balochistan have also stepped up their violent activities and formalised a nexus with it, Dawn reported.

President Arif Alvi also condemned it and stressed on the need to “speed up efforts for the complete elimination of terrorists”.

“Terrorists are the enemy of peace in Balochistan and progress,” he was quoted as saying. “Terrorists will never be successful in their nefarious plans.”

ALSO READ: Cancer hospital in Balochistan struggles with medicine shortage

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Biden mourns Mississippi mass shooting

American communities are being torn apart by gun violence: Joe Biden

Just hours after six people were shot dead in a rural Mississippi town, US President Joe Biden said that American communities are “being torn apart by gun violence”.

“Thoughts and prayers aren’t enough,” Biden said. “Gun violence is an epidemic and Congress must act now.”

He asked for what he called commonsense gun law reforms, including, among other things, requiring background checks on all gun sales and banning assault weapons, reports Xinhua news agency.

However, it is unlikely that Congress would pass those proposals with Republicans controlling the House of Representatives this term and advocating for the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

A shooter — identified as Richard Dale Crum — was taken into custody on Friday afternoon after reportedly opening fire on his former wife and potentially other family members at three different locations in Arkabutla, a small town in Mississippi’s Tate County.

Crum, 52, faces charges of first-degree murder in connection with the rampage, according to the Tate County Sheriff’s Office.

Additional charges, for each of the other victims, will be filed in the coming days. Crum is being held without bond in the Tate County Jail.

“Our hearts are heavy as we learned about the tragic event that happened in Arkabutla,” the Tate County Government wrote in a Facebook post on Friday night.

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said on Friday afternoon that he has been briefed on the series of shootings in Tate County.

“We believe he acted alone. His motive is not yet known,” Reeves said in a statement, adding that the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has been asked to assist in the investigation.

The US has lost more than 5,500 lives to gun violence so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

ALSO READ: Suspect in California mass shooting found dead

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TTP Terrorists Storm Karachi Police HQ

Among 5 militants, three of them blew themselves up while two were gunned down in the shootout that took place.

At least 5 Pakistan Taliban militants and 4 people, including rangers and police personnel, were killed after the four-hour-long operation by the Law enforcement agencies in Pakistan’s Karachi, weeks after the deadly attack in Peshawar’s police line, Geo News reported.

The incident happened on Friday night at the headquarters of Karachi police in south Sindh province.

Among 5 militants, three of them blew themselves up while two were gunned down in the shootout that took place on Friday, officials confirmed. Meanwhile, 18 people were injured, officials confirmed to Geo News, the latest attack on security forces as terrorism grips the nation.

After the long-hour operation, the LEAs cleared the five-story office of the city’s police chief.

The incident invited strong criticism from the top government officials, however, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told Geo News that “condemnations are not enough” and strict action must be taken against militants.

The attack began at 7:10 pm, while police and Rangers personnel cleared the five-story building in phases, finally sweeping the entire office by around 10:46 pm.

Rangers and police teams have started a joint operation against the terrorists following the armed attack on the Karachi Police Office (KPO) – the Additional Inspector General (AIG) Office, reported ARY News.

The Rangers spokesperson said that the quick response force (QRF) of the paramilitary troops surrounded the KPO building and took their positions. An operation was started by Rangers and police to clear the KPO from terrorists.

The spokesperson added that the operation is being conducted on the reported presence of eight to 10 terrorists in the Karachi police chief’s office.

A police officer, who did not want to be named, told Geo News that the attackers entered the office wearing police uniforms — a similar move used in the Peshawar mosque suicide attack that claimed the lives of more than 80 people.

Meanwhile, seven people including Rangers police personnel have been injured, reported Geo News.

Police officials said that armed suspects — whose total numbers are unknown at the moment — fired several rounds at the head office — located adjacent to the Saddar Police Station.

In view of the terrorists’ attack, the Karachi Traffic Police blocked both sides of Shara-e-Faisal from Avari Hotel to Nursery.

Talking exclusively to Geo News, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that there was a general security threat following the terror attack in Peshawar. “All the institutions are fully alert across the country,” he added.

The security czar stressed the need for taking further steps to counter the fresh wave of terrorism.

“The police have said that the terrorists threw a grenade after parking the vehicle, and used that as a cover for entering the building,” he revealed.

In a statement, Islamabad IG Akbar Nasir Khan confirmed that security is on high alert in the federal capital and all officers have been instructed to stay in their respective areas, reported Geo News.

“Checking of entry and exit routes and inside the city has been increased,” he said, adding that officials have been directed to keep all important buildings and Red Zone on high alert. (ANI)

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Big blow to Imran as Anti-terrorism court rejects bail plea

Khan was on interim bail in the case pertaining to protests outside the Election Commission of Pakistan ( and the court provided him the opportunity to appear before it on Wednesday…reports Asian Lite News

An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad on Wednesday rejected PTI chief Imran Khan’s bail plea in a case pertaining to protests outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) after the former premier failed to appear before the judge, media reports said.

Khan was on interim bail in the case and the court provided him the opportunity to appear before it on Wednesday, The Express Tribune reported.

Earlier, the hearing commenced without Khan under ATC judge Raja Jawad Abbas. Khan’s lawyer Babar Awan presented his arguments and made submissions before the court.

He maintained that the terrorism section did not apply to the case and highlighted that if the court gave that finding, the case could be transferred to another court.

The judge stated that the merit case could not be heard without the accused present, and that the current hearing was regarding the former premier’s bail application, The Express Tribune reported.

The lawyer maintained that Khan could not travel for ‘genuine reasons’ and that no recovery was needed from Khan in the case. He added that Pakistan is the only country where the entire cabinet is thinking of arresting the PTI chief.

The judge stated that the court would set precedents that would be fixed forever, adding that he would give the same relief to a powerful person as he would to the common man, The Express Tribune reported.

Awan said that an additional sessions judge had granted Khan interim bail till February 27 and requested the ATC do the same. He reiterated that the deposed premier “tried but was unable to travel”.

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