Tag: PAKISTAN

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Death toll from Pakistan’s Quetta blast rises to 25

After the attack, the authorities started snap-checking in various parts of the city with an additional contingent of police and law enforcers deployed for increased security….reports Asian Lite News

Islamabad, Nov 9 (IANS) The death toll of a blast that hit a railway station in Quetta city of Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Saturday rose to 25, health and police officials said.

Confirming the casualties, Waseem Baig, media coordinator of the provincial health ministry of Balochistan, told that the death toll increased after at least five injured people succumbed to injuries during treatment.

The health official said that 62 people sustained injuries in the bomb blast, and dozens have been shifted to a military hospital in the city for better treatment, adding that the death toll might further rise as several among the injured are in critical condition, Xinhua news agency reported.

After the attack, the authorities started snap-checking in various parts of the city with an additional contingent of police and law enforcers deployed for increased security.

The proscribed group Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack in a press release shared with media and on social media platforms.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and directed the hospital administration to provide the best possible medical treatment to the injured people.

ALSO READ: Extreme Pollution Forces Lockdowns In Pakistan’s Cities

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Extreme Pollution Forces Lockdowns In Pakistan’s Cities

The city of Multan turned apocalyptic as the city crossed the 2000 mark on Air Quality Index reading on Friday morning

The smog situation continues to worsen in Pakistan’s Punjab. On Friday morning, the city of Multan turned apocalyptic as the city crossed the 2000 mark on Air Quality Index reading, as per Dawn.

The state government of Pakistan’s Punjab is on high alert and is implementing various measures to bring down the pollution levels.

The state closed parks and museums till November 17 as air quality worsened to record level in all major cities of Punjab.

According to Dawn, Multan, the largest city in south Punjab province of Pakistan, recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 2,135 between 8am and 9am, according to IQAir, a Swiss air quality monitor.

The concentration of PM2.5 — fine particulate matter in the air that causes the most damage to health — was 947 micrograms per cubic metre, which is 189.4 times above the WHO guideline, as per IQAir.

The global health body considers anything over five micrograms per cubic metre as hazardous.

The AQI in Multan reached 980 by 10pm, at least three times over the 300 mark considered “hazardous”.

Three air quality monitors in the city at the WWF-Pakistan Office, Shamsabad Colony and Multan Cantonment showed AQI readings of 2,316, 1,635 and 1,527, respectively, at 10pm, as per Dawn.

The smog situation in Multan’s surrounding districts of Bahawalpur, Muzaffargarh, and Khanewal was also the same, resulting in reduced visibility on roads. The state of affairs has led to Nishtar Hospital, Multan’s biggest medical facility, establishing two smog counters in the OPD and Emergency wards due to hazardous air quality.

However, these counters did not receive any patients until Pakistani media outlets raised the issue.

Multan’s Deputy Commissioner Waseem Hamid Sindhu on Friday imposed a ‘smart lockdown’ in the city. According to this, the markets have been directed to close by 8pm and the traffic police is to take strict action against vehicles emitting smoke.

The city administration has also directed a crackdown against stubble and waste burning and brick kilns operating without zig zag technology.

Residents of the city informed Dawn that the rules were being flouted as children were playing in the grounds and streets as the schools were closed. Citizens also complained of sore throat due to bad air quality.

Meanwhile, the AQI in Lahore was also reported above 1,000 at 12am, making it the most polluted city in the world.

According to Dawn, a “complete ban” has been imposed on the entry of people in parks, zoos, playgrounds, monuments, museums and play lands in cities like Lahore, Nankana Sahib, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Chiniot and Jhang.

An official notification issued on Friday said the violators would face action under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which criminalised disobedience of government orders.

Public and private schools in 18 districts of the province have already been shut.

Even though industrial and vehicular emissions and stubble burning were resulting in smog, this wind pool also had turned the situation worse, according to the EPCCD secretary.

Pakistan Punjab’s senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said steps were being taken to curb the smog. These include covering all cargo trucks with tarps, advising children to not go outdoors and imposing fines and penalties on those who flouted the rules.

Additionally, several food stalls and outlets have been closed for “violating environmental regulations”.

Several key roads were also closed in the south and central regions of Pakistan’s Punjab as the area was badly affected due to the thick smog. (ANI)

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Imran Khan Granted Bail In May 9 Riots Case

ATC judge Arshad Javed on Friday heard the bail pleas and approved the pleas filed by the former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore granted bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in four May 9 riot cases, ARY News reported.

ATC judge Arshad Javed on Friday heard the bail pleas and approved the pleas filed by the former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The Prosecutor General of Punjab, Farhad Ali opposed the bail pleas and said that Imran Khan had informed his workers to attack important state buildings if he is arrested, ARY News reported.

Earlier, Khan on Tuesday moved Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the transfer of May 9 cases to military courts. He filed a plea through his lawyer Aziz Karamat Bhandari. He made the Law Secretary, Home Secretary, IG Islamabad, IG Punjab, IG Jails, DG FIA and the federal government as his respondents.

He pleaded with the court not to transfer May 9 cases for military court trials.

In a separate development, the Anti-Terrorism Court acquitted all 18 accused, including PTI workers, in the May 9 riots case due to lack of evidence. The defendants were accused of protesting in Landi Kotal on May 9, blocking the Torkham Road, damaging property, and damaging an Anti-Narcotics Force vehicle.

Judge Muhammad Iqbal of the Special Anti-Terrorism Court delivered the decision.

According to ARY News, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) administration had earlier written to Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) to propose the creation of a judicial panel to look into the May 9 riots.

The letter stated that the commission should be headed by a sitting or retired judge of the Peshawar HC.

The arrest of Imran Khan on May 9 resulted in violent clashes across the nation. As a result, the protests were held in remote and major cities as the party workers were agitated due to their chairman’s arrest, with Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad summoning the armed forces to ensure law and order, ARY News reported. (ANI)

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New Legislation Grants Unparalleled Authority to Army Chief, Deepening Democratic Decline in Pakistan

With unprecedented legal support, the Pakistan Army will now determine nearly all policies—economic, legal, political, telecommunication, and security—rendering civilian authorities ineffective and leaving the population at the mercy of the military, writes Dr Sakariya Kareem

In another development undermining democracy in Pakistan, the powerful military establishment pressured ruling coalition lawmakers to pass crucial bills in parliament without discussion. Demonstrating unprecedented haste, the government passed all six bills—seeking to extend the tenure of the chiefs of the country’s three armed forces and to increase the number of judges in the superior courts—from the National Assembly within 24 minutes and then from the Senate in just 16 minutes, without allowing any debate.

Among the six bills, the most controversial is the tenure extension of the three military chiefs from three to five years. In simple terms, Pakistan’s chief of army staff (COAS) can now legally serve for ten years, and the army chief can serve for two terms. This move further erodes democracy in Pakistan, and de facto military rule has taken hold. Moving forward, the army will not need to conduct a coup to gain power in Pakistan, as the new extension rule grants unprecedented control to future military chiefs.

The new bill guarantees that Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir, who has served for two years, will continue leading the country’s powerful military establishment until November 2027. He can also legally seek an additional five-year term after his initial five-year term ends in 2027. Munir’s extension could have severe consequences for opposition parties, particularly Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI). Experts believe that the ruling coalition, led by Shehbaz Sharif, pushed for the army chief’s tenure extension as a way to protect itself from political opposition and public discontent. In return, the military establishment is expected to keep Khan imprisoned, selectively target PTI supporters, and prevent large street protests against the ruling coalition. Notably, Sharif, in November 2022, selected General Munir for a three-year term as army chief, an appointment that was opposed by Imran Khan.

General Asim Munir Chief of Army Staff Pakistan

The bills passed by Parliament included the Supreme Court Number of Judges (Amendment) Bill 2024, the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2024, the Islamabad High Court (Amendment) Bill 2024, the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill 2024, the Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill 2024, and the Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill 2024. These bills were passed without prior discussion and silenced lawmakers from opposition parties. Furthermore, just hours after the new laws were passed, the government sent the documents to the acting President of Pakistan, Yusuf Raza Gilani, who signed them informally at his home. This demonstrates how non-serious the ruling coalition was about these crucial legislations and suggests they were under pressure from the military to pass them quickly. 

Critics argue that the new legislation will create discontent within the three military branches, as many senior officers will lose the opportunity to become chiefs. Additionally, the armed forces, particularly the army, may become more politicized as senior generals seek to align themselves with major political parties in hopes of advancing to chief positions. Importantly, the prime minister of Pakistan has the authority to select the army, navy, and air force chiefs. Furthermore, the amendments eliminate previous age limits and expand tenure options, allowing the Chief of Army Staff and other military leaders to serve beyond the earlier prescribed age of 64 if national security or urgent needs arise.

The new rules have been heavily criticized by Pakistani politicians and policy experts. One expert commented on X/Twitter regarding the services extension issue: “Thanks to the bill the government rushed through parliament suddenly today, Pakistan’s army chief can now be in power for a full 10 years (because an extension is possible). The country’s authoritarian turn has been cemented today.” Another post claimed that “the most damaging aspect of this government is how it has undermined Parliament and democratic norms. 6 bills passed in the NA within 24 minutes. A constitutional amendment passed in a midnight session marred by coercion and abductions. No debates, no public drafts.”

Politicians and members of ethnic minorities, such as Pashtun and Baloch, are worried about the new rules because they will directly affect their safety and security. A former Pashtun senator, Afrasiab Khattak, stated on social media, “Aside from movements led by popular young leaders from oppressed communities and activists from the left, there are no opposition political parties in Pakistan. The ruling party and the main opposition see eye to eye on extending the tenure of the generals. Don’t blame the people.”

Under the current ruling coalition government in Islamabad and the army chief, General Munir, ethnic minorities are facing increasing state-sponsored violence and forced incarcerations based on unsubstantiated legal charges. With the recent amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997 and the extension of the army chief’s tenure, people in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will experience more instability due to selective counterterrorism and intelligence-led operations by the Punjabi-dominated armed forces in Pakistan.

On November 5, two major religio-political parties—the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI)—criticized the coalition government for recent bills. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman stated that the ruling parties were “gagging” democracy by empowering the military establishment. At a press conference in Islamabad, Rehman argued that the new bill to amend the anti-terrorism law would tarnish democratic institutions and that it “is tantamount to civil martial law and a slap in the face of democracy.”

The long-term consequences of these rules for the people of Pakistan, particularly ethnic minorities like the Baloch and Pashtun, will be significant as General Munir and other security agencies openly violate the constitution, transforming the country into an autocratic military state. With unprecedented legal support, the Pakistan Army will now determine nearly all policies—economic, legal, political, telecommunication, and security—rendering civilian authorities ineffective and leaving the population at the mercy of the military.

ALSO READ: Pakistan sees nationwide protests against arbitrary rent hikes

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China, Pakistan conclude air forces’ exercise

The exercise was specifically aimed at validating and enhancing interoperability between Pakistan and China in dealing with contemporary air combat challenges….reports Asian Lite News


Pakistan and China have successfully concluded a bilateral air exercise, dubbed the Indus Shield-Chinese, designed to enhance the interoperability between their air forces, according to the Pakistani military. The exercise, which is a module of the larger Indus Shield 2024 military exercise, took place at a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) operational airbase.

The joint training witnessed significant participation from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), which brought advanced technologies, including the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, J-16 and J-10C fighter jets equipped with Beyond Visual Range (BVR) capabilities, the HQ-22 surface-to-air defense system, the potent YTG-9 Airborne Electronic Warfare Platform, and the KJ-500 airborne early warning system. These were set against Pakistan’s J-10C and JF-17 Block-III fighter jets in simulated modern aerial combat scenarios.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani military, highlighted that the successful execution of this large-scale exercise reflects the joint operational readiness of the Pakistan Air Force in collaboration with its allied nations.

The exercise was specifically aimed at validating and enhancing interoperability between Pakistan and China in dealing with contemporary air combat challenges. By engaging in various military tactics within a near-realistic, multi-domain operational training environment, both air forces were able to maximize their warfighting capabilities.

The broader Indus Shield 2024 exercise is recognized as the largest multinational regional exercise, featuring participation from 24 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey.

This comprehensive exercise seeks to foster greater interoperability and improve training methodologies using state-of-the-art facilities.

Simultaneously, Pakistan has initiated a joint military exercise with Malaysia named Harimau-Markhore II. This two-week exercise is being conducted at the National Counter-Terrorism Center in Pabbi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, focusing on enhancing bilateral relations and exchanging expertise between the two nations’ forces.

Additionally, Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Zulfiquar made a port call at Djibouti as part of a regional maritime security patrol. During the visit, the ship’s commanding officer engaged with Djibouti’s senior military leadership to explore collaborative opportunities.

The visit culminated in a Passage Exercise with the Djibouti Coast Guards to bolster interoperability. These activities underscore Pakistan’s ongoing commitment to fostering strong regional ties and enhancing joint operational capabilities with international partners.

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Pakistan sees nationwide protests against arbitrary rent hikes

This decision was made following consultations with tenant representatives from various cities, who operate businesses in Evacuee Trust properties….reports Asian Lite News


The Evacuee Trust Action Committee (ETAC) has launched a nationwide protest campaign in response to the arbitrary hike in rents for properties managed by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB).

The Evacuee Trust Action Committee (ETAC) is an organization primarily associated with the welfare and rights of the evacuees and their descendants, particularly those who were displaced during the partition of British India in 1947.

This decision was made following consultations with tenant representatives from various cities, who operate businesses in Evacuee Trust properties.
According to a report by The Express Tribune, the protest specifically targets the Evacuee Trust Amendment Ordinance 2006, which mandates an 8 per cent annual rent increase for properties and also grants ETPB officials the discretionary authority to raise rents based on prevailing market rates.

During a meeting held on Monday by the All Karachi Tajir Ittehad, the ordinance was condemned as unjust and punitive.
The report further stated that Atiq Mir, Chairperson of the Union, appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan, highlighting the severe injustice faced by tenants. He pointed out that ETPB officials were pressuring tenants by citing a controversial Supreme Court ruling that allows them to set varying rent rates for different areas at their discretion.

Atiq Mir emphasized that following a previous amendment to the Act, rents for Evacuee Trust properties were raised by 30 per cent, and tenants were also hit with an additional fee equivalent to 60 months’ rent.
These changes have already led to a significant increase in property rents. Mir warned that under the current law, many tenants would struggle to afford the rent, while corruption within the department would likely escalate.
He argued that imposing uniform rent rates on all tenants–regardless of their business sizes or economic status–was untenable.
Mir made it clear that if the arbitrary rent hikes continue, tenants will halt payments and refuse entry to department inspectors in markets. He further warned that if corrective measures were not taken, the protest would spread across the country, with tenants staging a sit-in at Numaish and at the Evacuee Trust Board office.

The meeting was attended by various business and tenant representatives, including Khawaja Khawar Amin, Hanif Ghanchi, Sharif Memon, Anjum Mosani, Farhan Saeed, Syed Sharafat Ali, Saeed Muhammad Ali, Syed Ghalib Hasan, Tayyab Ali, Amin T, Salman Abdul Khaliq, Nadeem Ahmed, Afzal Malik, Zaid Isa, and others. They collectively urged political parties to speak out in support of the tenants’ cause.
Atiq Mir also noted that the Department had been implementing the 8 per cent annual rent increase for the past 17 years. He reminded those present that a similar attempt to enforce this controversial ordinance was successfully blocked years ago following a widespread protest by Evacuee Trust property tenants across the country. (ANI)

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Teachers’ Strike in Pakistan Leaves Students in Limbo

Pakistani schools

APTA Provincial President Azizullah has said that the protest will continue until the KP Education Minister issues an official notification for teachers’ upgradation…reports Asian Lite News

More than 22,000 students across primary schools in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have no option but to sit at home as the province’s All-Primary Teachers Association (APTA) are holding a major sit-in protest at Peshawar’s Jinnah Park to press for their demands.

APTA Provincial President Azizullah has said that the protest will continue until the KP Education Minister issues an official notification for teachers’ upgradation.

On the other hand, the KP Education Department has taken the forced closure of schools as a challenge to the provincial government’s authority, warning to take strong action against APTA and the thousands of teachers involved in the protest.

Azizullah, meanwhile, continues to mobilise support, insisting that the government plans to launch a crackdown on the protest.

“Our phones are off and we are all keeping a low profile. Schools will only reopen once the government issues an official upgradation notification for teachers, as there will be no compromise on this demand. Teaches are united; they have made sacrifices in the past and are prepared to face any difficulty to secure their rights,” he said.

APTA had warned last month that it would shut down all 26,000 primary boys and girls schools from November 5 and would not reopen them until their demands are met.

“The sit-in would mark a historic event, as it is being held to demand the notification of upgradation, and regularization of 13,500 teachers, the restoration of forced promotions, and the revival of the fargo option”, remarked Azizullah.

Along with the demand of regularization of teachers, the teachers’ protest also opposes the privatization of primary schools. APTA is demanding creation of senior primary school teacher posts with position codes in merged districts of KP, class-wise teacher appointments at every primary school and teacher regularization under the 2022 Act and its inclusion into the General Provident (GP) Fund.

APTA says that even though it remains open to positive negotiations, no flexibility would be shown in their demands and the primary education system of KP province will remain completely shut.

The protest by the teachers is fast becoming a major challenge for the KP government as thousands of primary teachers, including men and women, take to the streets and force the education system of the province to shut down completely for an indefinite period of time.

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Pakistan committed to security of Chinese citizens, says Dar

Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar ( https://twitter.com/MIshaqDar50)

Dar confirmed that most attackers involved in recent incidents have been arrested and assured that they would face justice after due process…reports Asian Lite News


Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Ishaq Dar, has vowed to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals in the country, following recent attacks targeting Chinese workers. Speaking at a Pakistan-China Institute conference titled “China at 75: A Journey of Progress, Transformation and Global Leadership,” Dar highlighted significant strides made by authorities in apprehending suspects linked to the assaults.
Dar confirmed that most attackers involved in recent incidents have been arrested and assured that they would face justice after due process. He pledged that Pakistan would spare no effort in protecting Chinese lives and properties. Further details of these arrests will be shared directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping during President Zardari’s upcoming visit to China.
This assurance follows a suicide attack near Karachi airport earlier this month, claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which resulted in the deaths of two Chinese nationals and injuries to ten others. The BLA, which accuses China and Islamabad of exploiting Balochistan’s resources, has been responsible for several attacks targeting foreign nationals, including a recent attack on a Pakistani naval air base near the China-run Gwadar port.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Thursday described Chinese Ambassador’s statement as surprising and not reflective of the diplomatic traditions between Pakistan and China, as reported by ARY News.
During a press briefing, the Spokesperson of Pakistan’s Foreign Office, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, said, “We are tightening protocol of the visit of an ambassador or group of ambassadors’ visits to another city,” ARY News reported.
Baloch emphasized that the foreign ambassadors were guests of Pakistan and that the government was committed to providing them with comprehensive security, as reported by ARY News.
Earlier, on Wednesday, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong urged that the government should launch a crackdown against all anti-China terrorist groups following two deadly attacks in Pakistan within just six months, The Express Tribune reported.
The terrorists have twice targeted Chinese nationals in the past six months, first in March and then again in October, just 10 days before the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Pakistan.Speaking at a seminar titled ‘China at 75’, Ambassador Jiang emphasised that these attacks were “unacceptable” and stressed the need for enhanced security measures.
“It is very unacceptable for us to be attacked twice in only six months and these attacks have also caused causalities,” Ambassador Jiang said.
He added that Beijing hoped that the Pakistani side could further strengthen the security measures to protect Chinese personnel, institutions and projects.
Further, Jiang highlighted that security was the biggest constraint to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and “without safe and sound environment, nothing can be achieved.”

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Nepal’s foreign investment commitments reach NPR 16.4b

This figure includes a notable NPR 3.45 billion in pledges made during September alone…reports Asian Lite News


Nepal has witnessed a significant surge in foreign investment commitments, totalling NPR 16.4 billion in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, which runs from September to October.
According to the Department of Industry, this figure includes a notable NPR 3.45 billion in pledges made during September alone, the Kathmandu Post reported.
Among these commitments, NPR 150 million was pledged for 21 industries through the automatic approval route, a system implemented following the Third Nepal Investment Summit held in April. This streamlined process aims to encourage foreign investors by reducing bureaucratic hurdles. An additional NPR 3.3 billion in pledges was secured through the approval route for 34 industries.
The tourism sector emerged as a leading recipient of foreign investment, capturing 64 per cent of the total commitments. This was followed by the services sector at 24 per cent, manufacturing at 7 per cent, agriculture at 4 per cent, and information technology at 1 per cent, reported the Kathmandu Post.
The diverse distribution of investment highlights the growing confidence in Nepal’s potential across multiple sectors.
In comparison to the previous fiscal year, when foreign investment commitments reached NPR 61.90 billion, the current pace of investment is promising. However, it is important to note that the actual net foreign investment in the last fiscal year amounted to only NPR 8.40 billion, as per data from Nepal Rastra Bank.
This disparity raises questions about the effective realisation of investment pledges into tangible economic growth, the Kathmandu Post reported.
The encouraging investment landscape reflects a renewed optimism in Nepal’s economic prospects, signalling potential advancements in various industries as the government continues to enhance its investment climate. (ANI)

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Nearly 200 killed in terror attacks in Pakistan during October

The killed included 89 militants, 62 security personnel, and 38 civilians whereas 56 civilians, 44 security forces personnel, and 11 militants were injured in the attacks….reports Asian Lite News

A total of 198 people were killed and 111 others injured in separate terrorist attacks in Pakistan during October, the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), an Islamabad-based think tank said on Saturday.

Despite a slight reduction in the overall number of militant attacks, the month emerged as the second deadliest month of the year, followed by August when 254 people were killed and 150 others injured in such incidents, the data released by PICSS noted.

The killed included 89 militants, 62 security personnel, and 38 civilians whereas 56 civilians, 44 security forces personnel, and 11 militants were injured in the attacks.

The previous month also recorded the highest number of fatalities of militants and security forces, with combatants accounting for 81 per cent of the total deaths, the think tank said, Xinhua news agency reported.

The PICSS data show that although the militant attacks decreased by 12 per cent with 68 incidents recorded in October, the overall death toll surged by 77 per cent compared to September.

The report also highlighted that 87 per cent of the attacks were concentrated in the country’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, followed by 24 incidents in the southwestern Balochistan province, while the remaining attacks occurred in other regions across the South Asian country.

“Pakistan has endured a total of 785 militant attacks during the first 10 months of 2024, resulting in 951 deaths and 966 injuries, reflecting a persistently high level of violence across the country,” the think tank added.

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