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Pakistan's F-16 fighter jet. Photo: file   WASHINGTON: In a major development, the US State Department gave its nod to the potential sale of F-16 fighter jet sustainment and related equipment to Pakistan in a deal valued at up to $450 million, confirmed Pentagon Wednesday. The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin Corp, said the Pentagon. "The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Pakistan of F-16 Case for Sustainment and related equipment for an estimated cost of $450 million," according to a statement issued by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. Read more:  Influential US senator assures Pakistan of engagement to bolster bilateral ties It said that the release includes the US government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics services to support Pakistan's F-16 fleet. The release further said that this sale does not provide Pakistan with any new capabilities,

Former Prime Minister and leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) Imran Khan, speaks during an anti-government protest rally in Islamabad on August 20, 2022. — AFP ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court on Wednesday extended the interim bail of former prime minister Imran Khan and other PTI leaders till September 27 in a case pertaining to the alleged violation of Section 144 (ban on public gatherings exceeding four persons) in the capital on August 20 — the day the party staged a protest demonstration against the arrest of its leader Shahbaz Gill. On August 25, the Islamabad court granted interim bail to Imran Khan in the case till September 7 against a surety bond worth Rs5000.  The court also sought the police along with the case record at the next hearing. During the course of the proceedings, Babar Awan, Khan’s counsel, pleaded with the court to extend his client’s interim bail. He also requested the court to exempt his client from personal appearance in t

A smartly turned-out contingent of PAF Academy Asghar Khan assumed the ceremonial guard duties at the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Photo: Geo News/file   ISLAMABAD: The nation is observing Defence and Martyrs' Day today to pay tribute to  the shaheed (martyrs) and ghazis (honorific for living soldiers) with simplicity amid unprecedented floods that have submerged one-third of the country and have claimed over 1,300 lives so far. The Pakistan Army postponed its annual Defence Day ceremony — held at the General Headquarters on September 6 every year — in solidarity with flood victims across the country. The ceremony is held to commemorate the sacrifices of fallen heroes during the 1965 war. In 1965, the Indian forces, on this day, crossed the international border at night to attack Pakistan but the nation thwarted its nefarious designs. Special prayers were offered after Fajr in mosques this morning for the progress and prosperity of the country and the

ISLAMABAD: Expressing his disappointment over PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s Faisalabad speech, in which he accused the coalition government of delaying elections to appoint Army chief of its choice, Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked that everything has been put at stake for “game of thrones”.    More to follow...   Source link https://www.news.qm.com.pk/everything-put-at-stake-for-game-of-thrones-ihc-remarks-on-imrans-speech/?feed_id=247200

High flood will pass through Kotri Barrage today. Photo: Flood Forecasting Division    KARACHI: After causing widespread devastations and fatalities in different areas of Sindh, Punjab and other parts of the country, a high flood of 560,000 cusecs will pass through Kotri Barrage today, said Sukkur Barrage control room in-charge.  Sukkur Barrage was in high flood as the reservoir received flows of 600,000 cusecs of water from Taunsa Barrage, said the official. He maintained that 29,000 cusecs of water has been added to the reservoir during the past 24 hours.  In view of the expected flood, all the canals originating from the barrage have been closed for an unidentified period, he added. A flow of 559,998 cusecs was recorded upstream, while the downstream flow was 559,998 cusecs, said the official. The high flood was heading towards Kotri Barrage, he added. As per the Flood Forecasting Division (FFD), Kotri Barrage had an inflow of 513669 cusecs upstream and 503464 cuse

UK MP Claudia Webbe. File photo LONDON: UK MP Claudia Webbe has asked the world to cancel Pakistan’s international debts amid devastating floods that have wreaked havoc across the country pushing inflation to a 47-year high . The call from the UK lawmaker came as Pakistan deals with the worst climate disaster with officials saying more than 33 million people are affected -- one in every seven Pakistanis -- and reconstruction work will cost more than $10 billion. Rains, described by UN chief Antonio Guterres as a "monsoon on steroids" have claimed hundreds of lives since June, unleashing powerful floods that have washed away swathes of vital crops and damaged or destroyed more than a million homes. Read more:  Floods destroyed 118 districts, caused Rs2,000bn loss MP Claudia Webbe joined several other international figures who have supported Pakistan saying the country is facing a crisis which is caused by the developed world. “Inflation in Pakistan is at an all

PTI chairman Imran Khan speaks during an anti-government protest rally in Islamabad on August 20, 2022. Photo: AFP/File ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Thursday summoned PTI Chairman Imran Khan at 12 noon in the terror case filed against him for threatening senior police officers and Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry during a public rally in the federal capital. Imran Khan had secured pre-arrest bail in the terror case till September 1. More to follow .... Source link https://www.news.qm.com.pk/atc-summons-imran-khan-at-12-noon/?feed_id=233493

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Photo: AFP/file   ISLAMABAD: In a bid to express solidarity and stand with the people of Pakistan and the government at a time when one-third of the country has been completely submerged by unpreceded floods triggered by “above-normal” monsoon rains and the overall death toll has surpassed 1,100 mark, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has decided to visit the flood-affected areas in the country. Addressing a press briefing in New York, the UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the secretary-general will go to the areas most impacted by the unprecedented climate catastrophe. He will also meet with displaced families. Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad while welcoming the visit has said it will contribute in a big way to our collective effort to highlight the impact of this disaster. He said this visit by UNSG to further mobilize international assistance. UN launches $160m flash appeal for floo

Police officers escort the leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Doctor Shahbaz Gill after a hearing at district court, in Federal Capital. — file  ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court in Islamabad resumed on Monday (today) hearing of a petition seeking interim bail of PTI’s incarcerated leader Shahbaz Gill in a sedition case filed against him. On August 9, Gill was arrested from Banigala Chowk in the capital a day after making controversial remarks on a private TV channel. He was subsequently booked on charges of sedition and inciting members of state institutions against the Pakistan Army. Additional District and Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal is hearing the sedition case. Shahbaz Gill’s lawyers are giving their arguments in the courtroom. Court gave police last chance to submit records In the last hearing, the Islamabad court gave the capital's police the last chance to submit records pertaining to the sedition case against the PTI leader by Monday with his lawye

PTI leader Asad Umar speaking to media in Karachi. -Screengrab ISLAMABAD: PTI leader Asad Umar on Saturday blasted the coalition government for "trying to suppress Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Minister Taimur Jhagra's voice" after he wrote a letter to the Centre hinting at withdrawing from a commitment made with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the revival of the $6 billion loan programme. A day earlier, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail lashed out at Taimur Khan Jhagra for jeopardising the IMF programme ahead of its Executive Board meeting scheduled for Monday (August 29). Addressing a press conference, Miftah criticised the PTI leaders for putting the country at stake when it is already reeling from the devastations caused by flash floods and relentless rains — which have affected more than 30 million people. It is pertinent to mention here that KP government refused to implement the IMF loan precondition for the surplus budget, citing the non-payment of

This screengrab shows a house being washed away in a flood.  PESHAWAR: The scale of destruction due to floods across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after record rains has made it difficult for the provincial authorities to rescue the affected families in the hill stations of Swat, Dir and Chitral. A video of a big house being washed away in the floods shows the devastation the rains have caused, with many others like it broken or swept away, besides the damage to roads, and hundreds of lives lost. In the video, people can be seen shouting, “Astaghfirullah, Astaghfirullah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, ” as the building collapsed within seconds of being hit. Here’s the video:   Source link https://www.news.qm.com.pk/watch-house-getting-washed-away-in-swat-floods/?feed_id=213306

Former prime minister Imran Khan reaches court to appear in a terrorism case filed for threatening police officials and a judge. Screengrab PTI Twitter ISLAMABAD: PTI Chairman Imran Khan finally appeared before an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad to seek pre-arrest bail after the expiry of transit bail granted by the Islamabad High Court in a terrorism case filed against him. On August 21, a first information report (FIR) was registered against the former prime minister under the Anti-Terrorism Act for threatening an additional sessions judge and senior police officers of the Islamabad Police at a rally in the federal capital’s F-9 Park on August 20. Khan appears in person before the court where ATC judge Raja Jawwad Abbas is hearing his plea. Terming the terrorism case against Imran Khan “political victimization”, his counsels Babar Awan and Muhammad Ali Bukhari have filed a petition in the ATC seeking their client’s pre-arrest bail. The lawyers urged the ATC jud

The federal government is likely to raise petroleum prices by up to Rs20 per litre  — AFP/File ISLAMABAD: In a bid to get stalled $6 billion IMF bailout package revived, the coalition government is likely to raise the prices of petroleum products by up to a whopping Rs20 per litre from September 1, revealed well-placed sources. In the letter of intent (LoI) to the IMF, the government had said, in writing, that they have imposed a sales tax on petroleum products. The sources, however, said that the rate of sales tax on the commodity is likely to be raised from the next month, Daily Jang reported.  In order to fulfil the pre-requisites of the IMF, the federal government is likely to abolish the sales tax exemptions on petroleum products for the agricultural sector from September 1, the sources added. The authorities are mulling introducing 10.5% sales tax on petroleum products from October under the conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It is pertinent

State lawmaker from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party, T Raja Singh. — Courtesy The Quint ISLAMABAD: Pakistan strongly condemned on Wednesday the highly provocative and sacrilegious remarks made against the Holy Prophet (PBUH) by another leader of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In a statement, Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad condemned, in the strongest possible terms, the blasphemous remarks made by Raja Singh, a BJP official and a member of the state legislative assembly of the Indian state of Telangana. This is the second time in the last three months that a senior BJP leader has made disrespectful comments against the Holy Prophet (PBUH), he added. The spokesperson said that these highly derogatory remarks have gravely hurt the feelings of the people of Pakistan and billions of Muslims around the world. The token and perfunctory disciplinary action taken by the BJP against the said official cannot assuage the pain and anguish ca

Former prime minister Imran Khan speaks to supporters in Islamabad in this file photo. -AFP      ISLAMABAD: A larger bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) will initiate contempt of court proceedings against PTI Chairman Imran Khan today for allegedly threatening Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry during his address to a public rally in the federal capital on August 20. The PTI chairman last week staged a rally in solidarity with his Chief of Staff Shahbaz Gill in the capital and warned that he would “not spare” IG  Islamabad Police and the DIG, vowing to file cases against them for subjecting Gill to alleged inhuman torture. Moving on to the additional sessions judge, who had approved the remand of Gill on the police request, the PTI chairperson had said she should brace herself for consequences, vowing to take action against her. IHC took notice of Imran’s ‘threats’ On August 22, IHC registrar Farhan Aziz Khawaja put up a note regarding the ‘threatening remarks’ of t

PTI Chairman Imran Khan speaks to media in this file photo. — PTI Instagran ISLAMABAD: PTI Chairman Imran Khan is facing an imminent danger of being arrested under an anti-terrorism case filed against him for threatening senior police officials and a female judge. However, his whereabouts are unclear. A first information report (FIR) was registered against former prime minister Khan under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) for threatening an additional sessions judge and senior police officers of the Islamabad Police at a rally in the federal capital’s F-9 Park. According to sources, the PTI chairman has left his Banigala residence to avoid arrest, but party leaders claimed that Khan was still at his home.  Faisal Vawda took to Twitter and said: “Imran Khan is present in his Banigala residence and is calm. He is not a fugitive like Nawaz Sharif who ran away with excuses. Shame on the imported government. Such tactics will yield nothing.” According to The News , the interior min

Flash flood sweeps away seven people in Chitral. Photo: Twitter      CHITRAL: At least five people were dead and two others were still missing after flash floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains wreaked havoc in Chitral, it emerged on Saturday. As per the details, seven people, including a woman, were swept away by the flash flood in different areas of Chitral on Friday. After being informed, the rescue officials launched a rescue operation and recovered five bodies, said the rescue sources. The search operation is underway to recover the other two, they added. PMD forecasts more rains  In its daily weather report, the  Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD)   on Saturday said that monsoon currents are still penetrating in most parts of the country.  A westerly wave is also affecting western and upper parts of the country, it added.  The Met Office said that rain coupled with thundershower is expected in Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Kashmir and Gilgit-

Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast more rains in Karachi today. Photo: Twitter/ @Shahery47341188 KARACHI: As the port city continues to receive intermittent moderate to heavy showers since yesterday (Wednesday), Sardar Sarfaraz, Chief Meteorologist at the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast more rains coupled with thunderstorms in Karachi today under the influence of the season's fourth monsoon spell. Talking to Geo News , the chief meteorologist predicted that the new spell of intermittent rains is expected to continue till night. He maintained that under the influence of the weather system, most parts of the province are expected to receive rains. Intermittent rains are expected to continue in Nawabshah, Larkana, Jacobabad and Dadu till August 20, he added. “Heavy rains may generate urban flooding in Karachi,” warned Sardar Sarfaraz. In its daily weather report, the Met Office said, “Rain-wind/thundershower is expected in Sindh, Balochistan, Pun

PTI leader Shahbaz Gill seen lying on a hospital's bed with an oxygen mask on. — Twitter ISLAMABAD: The medical examination of senior PTI leader Shahbaz Gill was underway at the PIMS Hospital, sources said early Thursday morning, after the politician was shifted to the medical facility due to "breathing" issues. Adiala jail authorities handed over Gill — who has been behind the bars since over a week now in a sedition case — to the Islamabad Police late on Tuesday night following a heated standoff over his custody. The handover was ordered by a district and sessions court earlier in the day. At the PIMS's cardiac centre, doctors conducted his initial medical checkup. Different tests, including blood tests and ECG were also conducted. The sources said that Gill's oxygen saturation level was recorded at 97. For normal people, a pulse oximeter reading for oxygen saturation level is between 95% and 100%. Moreover, a sample for COVID-19 diagnostic testing

A sateellite image highlighting the distance and location of the system. — Pakistan Meteorological Department KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Saturday warned that the depression (intense low-pressure area) over the North Arabian Sea has moved in a west-southwest direction during the last 12 hours and is now located at a distance of about 450km southwest of Karachi. In its Alert-III, the Met Office said that the system is likely to move further westwards till today evening and then recurve northeastwards and weaken gradually. Maximum sustained surface winds are 45km per hour gusting to 55km per hour around the system centre. “Currently none of Pakistan's coastal area is under any threat from this weather system,” the Met Office alert said, adding that PMD Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre, Karachi is closely monitoring the system and updates will be issued accordingly. Accordingly, it mentioned that sea conditions would remain very rough during the