Author: Our Correspondent

By our correspondent KARACHI: The Karachi Union of Journalists has called for the immediate withdrawal of a case registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act against senior journalist Aslam Shah and urged that he be released without delay. In a strongly worded statement, the union criticised what it described as deliberate delays by the state prosecutor and the investigating officer of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency. These, it said, were obstructing Shah’s right to seek bail and preventing the case from moving forward. On Monday, Shah’s bail could not be secured after proceedings were once again postponed. A…

By our correspondent KARACHI: A delegation from the Sindh Association of North America (SANA), led by President Dr. Maqbool Halepoto, visited the National Disability & Development Forum (NDF) Rehabilitation Centre in Gulistan-e-Johar, Karachi, on Friday, highlighting growing transnational support for children with intellectual disabilities in Sindh. Dr. Halepoto praised the dedication of the NDF team, led by President Abid Lashari, for providing free rehabilitation services to children from marginalized communities across the province. He described the center’s work as vital, offering hope and opportunities to families often excluded from mainstream social and medical support. Highlighting the alignment between SANA and…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: A delegation of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) held a meeting with Federal Secretary for Information and Broadcasting, Ashfaq Ahmed Khalil, to discuss the challenges facing journalists across the country. The PFUJ delegation included Secretary Shakil Ahmed, Vice President Qaiser Mirza, and Federal Executive Council members Yasir Nazar Awan and Ishaq Chaudhry. During the talks, they raised pressing issues such as delays in issuing health cards, ongoing layoffs in media organizations, non-payment of dues, and concerns over the list of plots allocated to journalists under the Housing Foundation quota. The PFUJ representatives told the…

By our correspondent KARACHI: The Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) has marked another significant achievement in organ transplantation by successfully performing corneal transplants using tissue donated by a deceased donor, restoring sight to two patients and transforming a moment of profound personal loss into one of lasting hope. The donor, the late Sher Ali Taheem, was a 17-year-old student and resident of Karachi who was admitted to SIUT after suffering a severe brain haemorrhage. Despite exhaustive medical efforts, he remained in the intensive care unit for two days before being declared brain-dead. Sher Ali had a deep and…

By our correspondent KARACHI: A banking court in Karachi has ordered action by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), resulting in raids on the residences of directors of Bari Textile Mills (Private) Limited in connection with a criminal default case filed by JS Bank Limited. Acting on the directions of Banking Court-I, FIA officials, accompanied by police personnel, carried out the raids on Thursday after the court issued arrest warrants against Muhammad Naqi Bari, Muhammad Danish Naqi Bari, Ather Muhammad Naqi Bari and Muhammad Tabish Bari. Banking and law enforcement sources allege that Bari Textile Mills is a habitual defaulter within…

By our correspondentKARACHI: The Secretary General of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement–Haqiqi (MQM-H), Shahid Faraz, has criticized the ongoing government operations against “illegal encroachments,” alleging that they disproportionately target migrant communities while allowing influential outsiders to continue their violations unchecked. Speaking during a meeting with a delegation of senior migrant leaders from the District Central Office at the residence of Afaq Ahmed, Faraz condemned the actions as discriminatory and unconstitutional. “Once again, the migrant community is being systematically targeted under the pretext of anti-encroachment operations, while unauthorized encroachments by influential non-locals remain untouched. This is not only a violation of constitutional…

By our correspondent LAHORE: The funeral prayers of Dr Ziaullah Bangash, a founding member of the Pakistan People’s Party and former member of the provincial assembly Punjab, were held in Lahore on Tuesday. The ceremony drew a large gathering of politicians, social workers, journalists, prominent public figures, and local residents, all of whom paid tribute to Dr Bangash’s lifelong dedication to public service. Attendees recalled his efforts to strengthen democratic values and his contributions to shaping the country’s political landscape. Mourners also offered their condolences to the family, expressing hope that Dr Bangash’s soul would be granted a high place…

By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has found several power stations and electricity companies lacking in safety performance, raising concerns about potential risks to workers and the public. NEPRA released its 2024–25 report on the health, safety, and environmental practices of companies involved in electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. The report warned that company heads would be held personally accountable for safety lapses and any accidents occurring during operations or affecting the public. According to NEPRA, violations of safety laws and standard operating procedures remain a major cause of workplace incidents. The regulator evaluated companies…

By our correspondent KARACHI: The government’s approach to addressing Karachi’s infrastructure and governance issues is fragmented, with patchwork solutions replacing long-term planning, said Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Altaf Shakoor on Sunday. Speaking in Karachi, Shakoor criticised the Sindh government for copying development initiatives from Lahore for political reasons rather than addressing the root causes of the city’s poor governance and deteriorating infrastructure. He noted that while a few double-decker buses had been imported, the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and the creation of a modern, integrated public transport system combining buses and rail remained long-standing and unmet…

By our correspondent KARACHI: Senior leader of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi (MQM-H) Sadiq Idris has said the survival of Karachi depends on the unity of the Mohajir nation, stressing that the creation of a new province in Sindh is a constitutional right and must be based on urban Sindh. Sadiq Idris made the remarks while meeting various delegations of the Sindh Urban Graduate Forum from across the city at the residence of party chief Afaq Ahmed. He expressed serious concern over what he described as continued injustice and fascism against urban Sindh. He said the MQM had demanded a southern…