Author: Imtiaz Hussain

‘The Currency of Influence’ explores economic and public diplomacy through lived experience and scholarly depth By Imtiaz Hussain SUKKUR: Sukkur IBA hosted the launch of The Currency of Influence: Economic Diplomacy and Public Perception Through Public Diplomacy, a new book by Ambassador Dr. Ahmed Ali Sirohey, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former Ambassador of Pakistan to Niger. The event, organised by the university’s Case Research Center (CRC), brought together academics, students, and guests to celebrate a significant contribution to diplomatic literature. In a message marking the occasion, Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Asif Ahmed Shaikh praised…

By Imtiaz Hussain SUKKUR: Two robbers were killed and a third injured during a police encounter in the Gul Shah Peer area under the jurisdiction of Store Gunj Police Station, officials said on Monday. According to SSP Shikarpur, Shazeb Chachar, the incident unfolded after a gang of armed dacoits snatched a motorcycle from a citizen. Police intercepted the suspects following a brief chase. When confronted, the robbers opened fire on the police party, leading to an exchange of gunfire. During the encounter, two suspects—Amjad Luhar and Murtaza Gharani Jatoi—were shot dead on the spot, while a third, Asghar Ali Gharani…

By Imtiaz Hussain SUKKUR: At least four people, including three women and a man, were brutally killed in separate suspected incidents of ‘Karo Kari’—a form of so-called honor killing—in Sindh’s Jacobabad and Qambar districts over the past 24 hours, according to police reports. In one of the most chilling of these cases, Majid Lashari reportedly shot dead his sister-in-law, Shakilla, and her alleged lover, Pyaro Jamali, in Shahzado Lashari village under the jurisdiction of Mahammadpur Police Station, Jacobabad. The accused claimed the pair were involved in an illicit relationship. Police responded promptly to the scene and arrested Lashari. Officials say…

By Imtiaz Hussain SUKKUR: Journalists from Sukkur, Jacobabad, and Khairpur staged protests on Saturday against the targeted killing of senior journalist Syed Muhammad Shah, who was gunned down outside his home in Jacobabad district in what colleagues have described as a brutal attack on press freedom. Shah, a former president of the Garhi Khairo Press Club, was shot dead in Altaf Shah village near Garhi Khairo. According to police reports, the suspected gunman, Abdul Hussain Umrani, knocked on Shah’s door and opened fire as the journalist stepped outside. Shah died on the spot. In a dramatic turn of events, Umrani…

By Imtiaz Hussain SUKKUR: Police in Sindh’s Khairpur district have arrested two men for impersonating Pakistan Army officers and extorting money from truck drivers, while in a separate operation, a notorious criminal linked to over 30 serious offences was captured following a chase and exchange of fire. Acting on intelligence, Faiz Gunj Police raided the Gorchani pump area along the Mehran Highway where a man in army uniform had reportedly been demanding money from transporters. Upon arrival, police confronted and arrested two individuals, Mukhtiar Mastoi and Moazzam Khuwaja, who were caught extorting money while falsely claiming to be Pakistan Army…

By Imtiaz Hussain MORO: A postmortem report has confirmed that Irfan Ali Laghari, the young protester who died following police action during demonstrations in Moro, sustained multiple injuries including a fatal blow to the head — from which a metal fragment was retrieved from his brain. The postmortem, conducted on 23 May 2025, revealed that Laghari had suffered several bruises and wounds across his body. According to the medical findings, his skull was fractured on the right side and a deep injury was observed on the lower surface of the brain. A startling detail in the report states that a…

By Imtiaz Hussain SUKKUR: Commissioner Sukkur Fayaz Hussain Abbasi has stressed the need for collective responsibility in the fight against Thalassemia, calling for increased public awareness and regular blood donations. He made these remarks at a seminar on blood donation and Thalassemia awareness held at RT Grace Hotel, Sukkur, organised by the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority (SBTA). The seminar brought together key stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, civil society members and government officials, to address the growing challenge of Thalassemia and improve Sindh’s blood transfusion systems. Addressing the gathering, Commissioner Abbasi said: “Thalassemia is a preventable disease, and with collective efforts…

By Imtiaz Hussain SUKKUR: A capacity-building workshop for health beat journalists from Larkana and Khairpur districts was held in Gambat, Khairpur, to enhance their understanding and coverage of key immunization issues. The event, conducted under the directives of Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechoho, Secretary Health Rehan Iqbal Baloch, and EPI Project Director Dr Raj Kumar, was organized in collaboration with UNICEF. The workshop aimed to sensitize journalists on critical vaccination topics, including multi-dose vial management, fixed-site vaccination strategy, the introduction of new vaccines such as the HPV vaccine for cancer prevention, and proper vaccine storage protocols. Sunil Raja,…

By Imtiaz Hussain SUKKUR: Deputy Commissioner Fayyaz Hussain Rahoojo inaugurated the latest anti-polio campaign at City Hospital Khairpur, personally administering oral polio vaccine drops to children under the age of five. He also received a detailed briefing on the campaign’s strategy and coverage plans. Following the inauguration, Rahoojo led a polio awareness walk from City Hospital to Phoolbagh to mobilize public support and spread awareness about the importance of vaccination. Speaking to attendees, the Deputy Commissioner stressed that the complete eradication of polio is only possible when every segment of society, especially parents, fully understands the significance of protecting children…

By Imtiaz Hussain SUKKUR: Former federal minister and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) leader Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi, along with his brother, ex-MPA Masroor Jatoi, has vehemently denounced the recent registration of First Information Reports (FIRs) against them and several of their associates, including Baz Muhammad Sial, Ijaz Leghari, Bahawal Leghari, and Ghazi Leghari. The Jatoi brothers condemned the FIRs as politically driven, alleging they were part of a broader campaign to exact personal and political revenge. Calling for a transparent judicial inquiry, the brothers urged the judiciary to expose what they called the deliberate misuse of law enforcement to settle political…