KARACHI: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Karachi on Friday sentenced two men associated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to death over the murder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) leader Zahra Shahid Hussain.
Hussain was killed on May 18, 2013, hours before polling began for the byelections of NA-250 in which the PTI’s presidential candidate Dr. Arif Alvi was elected as a member of National Assembly (MNA).
Rangers’ prosecutor Mushtaq Jehangiri told Arab News that the two men, Mohammed Rashid and Zahid Abbas, were associated with MQM’s London faction.
The ATC judge Naseem Akhtar, who handed down the verdict, said two other accused, Irfan Ahmed and Kaleem, were acquitted as the charges leveled against them were not proven.
A PTI leader hailed the court verdict. “As you sow so shall you reap,” Ali Zaidi, PTI leader and MNA from Karachi, told Arab News.
An MQM-P leader who requested anonymity told Arab News: “If someone has committed a crime, he should be punished.”
“If the families of the condemned workers believe they have been wrongly convicted, they should move the appeal to the Sindh High Court (SHC). MQM-P, however, doesn’t support any wrongdoing let alone a murder,” he said.
Jehangiri told Arab News that both convicted men enjoyed the legal support of MQM. “MQM has been using different tactics from day one. They threatened the family so to the case does not proceed,” he said, adding that after Aug. 22, it was the London group that would extend help.
The Rangers’ prosecutor said that after being repeatedly threatened, the family of the PTI leader left the country.
Imran Khan, PTI chairman, had accused the MQM chief of killing Hussain.
In other tweets, the PTI chief, now prime minister of Pakistan, said he also held the British government responsible as he had warned them about a British citizen who had issued threats to PTI workers.
PTI’s women’s leader and incumbent minister for human rights, Shireen Mazari, declared the incident an act of terror and a failure on the part of the provincial government.
“Imran Khan had requested the government take action against MQM and Altaf Hussain for issuing threatening statements and inciting violence in the country, but no action was taken,” she said.
MQM-London did not respond to Arab News.
Two MQM workers sentenced to death for murder of PTI leader
Two MQM workers sentenced to death for murder of PTI leader
- Prime Minister Imran Khan said he holds “Altaf Hussain directly responsible for the murder” as he had “openly threatened PTI workers and leaders through public broadcasts”
- Rangers’ prosecutor, Mushtaq Jehangiri, says both men, Mohammed Rashid and Zahid Abbas, were associated with Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) London faction
Pakistan’s finance minister to take part in two-day Asian Financial Forum summit today
- AFF brings together influential leaders from government, finance and business communities globally for economic discussions
- Muhammad Aurangzeb to meet Chinese and foreign officials, financial sector experts, professionals and investors during summit
ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb will take part in the two-day Asian Financial Forum (AFF) summit today, Monday, in Hong Kong where he is expected to meet top business officials and financial sector analysts as Pakistan navigates a tricky path to economic recovery.
The AFF is the region’s premier platform that brings together influential leaders from government, finance, and business communities globally for ground-breaking discussions and exchange of insights on the global economy from an Asian perspective.
Pakistan’s state media reported on Sunday that the finance minister will meet Chinese and foreign officials, financial sector experts, professionals, investors and top businessmen during the summit. These include the heads of China International Capital Corporation Limited, China New Energy Sky Rail Limited and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
“The #AsianFinancialForum has officially commenced! In two days’ time, we’ll explore the theme “Power the Next Growth Engine” with some of the brightest minds in global finance and business,” the AFF wrote on social media platform X.
At the eve of the summit, Aurangzeb met business officials of Servis Long March, Pakistani manufacturer of all-steel radial truck & bus tires, to discuss the importance of attracting foreign investment and presence of Pakistani businesses in international financial markets, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.
“The discussions also focused on the broader implications of this collaboration, emphasizing the need to enhance Pakistan’s presence in international financial markets and attract foreign investment,” APP reported.
The minister met the company’s Chairman Jin Yongsheng and Chief Executive Officer Omar Saeed. Both sides discussed the potential benefits of listing on an international platform to access global capital markets.
Aurangzeb appreciated Servis Long March’s intention to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, assuring it of the government’s support, the APP said. He said Islamabad would also support other companies pursuing international equity capital raising.
“The meeting concluded with a mutual understanding of the need for continued dialogue and cooperation to address the complexities of international listings and capital raising,” APP reported.
The Pakistani finance minister will also hold interactions with foreign media, which include speaking to international publications such as Bloomberg, Nikkei Asia and other media representatives during the summit.
His visit to Hong Kong takes place as Pakistan attempts to ward off an economic crisis that has drained its resources and triggered a balance of payments headache for the country over the past two years.
Pakistan has made some economic gains since 2023 by slashing inflation to single-digit figures from a record high of 38 percent in May 2023 and registering gains in the stock market.
Financial Times features northern Pakistan in list of 50 holiday places to visit in 2025
- Publication cites improved security situation, “dramatic mountain scenery” as reasons to visit northern Pakistan
- Northern Pakistan is home to some of the tallest mountains in the world and is also a major tourist destination
ISLAMABAD: International business publication Financial Times recently featured Pakistan in its list of 50 places worldwide to visit on holidays, citing its “dramatic mountain scenery” and an improved security situation as reasons worth visiting the area.
Gilgit-Baltistan, a sparsely populated northern region administered by Pakistan as an autonomous territory, is home to some of the tallest peaks in the world and a major tourist destination. Thousands of tourists and foreign climbers visit the region each year for expeditions on various peaks, paragliding and other sports activities.
The Financial Times is a UK-based international business publication that enjoys massive readership worldwide. The publication says on its LinkedIn profile that it has a record paying readership of one million, three-quarters of which are digital subscriptions. It recommended its readers to visit northern Pakistan for trekking in the mountains in the month of September in a report titled: “50 holidays to take in 2025.”
“Northern Pakistan boasts some of the world’s most dramatic mountain scenery and an improved security situation, easier access and better accommodation options mean that more visitors are discovering it,” Financial Times said in the report which was published on Saturday.
It noted that Pakistan began offering free visas online for citizens of more than 120 nations in August 2024 and that there were now “growing numbers of flights” to Skardu and Gilgit, gateways to the Hunza Valley and Baltistan in the country’s northern mountainous region.
“Wild Frontiers, which started out offering trips to Pakistan in 1998, is running a guided 14-day group tour that provides a deep immersion in the culture, history and landscapes of the region, and includes six days’ trekking,” it said.
Other places mentioned in the list include India’s Kumaon Himalayas, Italy’s Ischia Island, Bhutan and Greenland.
State broadcaster Radio Pakistan said the recognition was a testament to Pakistan’s commitment to promoting its diverse tourist offerings.
“As the country continues to improve infrastructure and facilitate travel, it is poised to become a leading destination for adventure and cultural tourism in 2025 and beyond,” it said.
Earlier this month, US-based broadcaster CNN curated a list of 25 destinations worth visiting in 2025, with the list featuring GB among the destinations.
While 2024 saw a surge in mountaineering expeditions in GB, nine mountaineers died last year in their attempts to summit various peaks in the South Asian country, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan, which arranges various expeditions. Of these climbers, five were from Japan, one from Russia, one from Brazil and two from Pakistan.
Pakistan court to announce £190 million bribe case verdict against Imran Khan, wife today
- Khan, wife are accused of receiving land worth millions of dollars as bribe from real estate tycoon for favor
- Accountability court in Islamabad hearing the case has postponed announcement of the verdict twice before
ISLAMABAD: An accountability court in Pakistan’s capital is set to announce the long-awaited verdict today, Monday, in a case involving former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Khan, in which the two are accused of receiving land worth millions of dollars as bribe from a real estate tycoon through a trust.
The Islamabad accountability court had reserved the case’s verdict and was to announce it on Dec. 23, 2024. However, the decision was delayed to Jan. 6 due to winter vacations. The court delayed the decision for a second time till Jan. 13, drawing criticism from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
The Al-Qadir Trust case, as it has popularly come to be known, involves a charitable trust set up by Khan and his third wife Bushra Khan in 2018 when he was still in office. Pakistani authorities have accused Khan and Bushra of receiving the land, worth up to 7 billion rupees ($25 million), from property developer Malik Riaz, who was charged in Britain with money laundering.
Authorities accused Khan of getting the land in exchange for a favor to the property developer by using 190 million pounds repatriated by Britain in the money laundering probe to pay fines levied by a court against the developer. Khan’s aides have previously said that the land was donated to the trust for charitable purposes and that neither he nor his wife personally benefited from it. Riaz has also denied any wrongdoing.
“Not beneficiary, not owner, no illegal gratification taken or given, no authority misused, no loss caused and no crime committed — period,” Gohar Ali Khan, the PTI chairman, wrote on social media platform X on Monday.
Khan’s party last week said the repeated delays in announcing the verdict puts a question mark on the legitimacy of the merits of the trial, alleging that it was conducted based on “phony evidence.”
Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023 in a slew of cases, says the cases against him are politically motivated to keep him and his party away from power. Since his ouster from office, the former prime minister has led a campaign of unprecedented defiance against the country’s powerful military, accusing them of colluding with his rivals to orchestrate his removal.
The military has denied Khan’s allegations and insisted strongly it does not interfere in politics.
Pakistan religion minister in Saudi Arabia to attend Global Hajj and Umrah Conference
- The fourth edition of the Global Hajj and Umrah Conference and Expo is being held in Jeddah on Jan. 13-16
- Hussain will deliver a speech at the summit that aims to enhance pilgrim services and promote competitiveness
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain has arrived in Saudi Arabia on a three-day visit to attend the Global Hajj and Umrah Conference and Expo, and sign the Hajj Agreement 2025, the Pakistani religious affairs ministry said on Sunday.
The fourth edition of the Global Hajj and Umrah Conference and Expo, organized by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, is being held in Jeddah on Jan. 13-16.
Hussain will deliver a speech at the conference, which will have participation of ministers, distinguished personalities, and diplomats from 90 countries.
“The conference aims to enhance services for pilgrims and promote transparency and competitiveness in related industries,” the Pakistani religious affairs ministry said in a statement.
“It will feature 47 panel discussions, 50 workshops, and exhibitions showcasing the latest Hajj technologies and services with 280 displays.”
On Sunday, Hussain also met with Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umra Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabi’ah and the two figures reviewed arrangements for Hajj 2025. He praised the efforts of the Saudi leadership in providing excellent facilities to pilgrims.
“There is further potential to strengthen economic and investment cooperation between the two countries,” Hussain was quoted as saying by his ministry.
“This year, measures have been taken to provide better facilities for Pakistani pilgrims compared to previous years, and instructions have been given to the Hajj Affairs Office in Jeddah to ensure the best services for the pilgrims.”
The Saudi Hajj and Umrah minister remarked that a large number of pilgrims come from Pakistan each year, and assured that every possible cooperation would be provided to Pakistani pilgrims, according to the Pakistani religious affairs ministry.
Saudi Arabia has allocated a quota of 179,210 Hajj pilgrims for Pakistan in 2025, divided equally between government and private schemes.
For the first time, Pakistan’s Hajj policy allowed pilgrims last year to make payments in installments. Under this scheme, the first installment of Rs 200,000 ($717) had to be submitted with the application, the second installment of Rs 400,000 ($1,435) within 10 days of balloting and the remaining amount by February 10 this year.
The Pakistani religious affairs ministry has also launched the Pak Hajj 2025 mobile application, available for both Android and iPhone users, to guide pilgrims. Additionally, the government announced a reduction in airfare, lowering ticket prices for federal program pilgrims to Rs 220,000, down from last year’s Rs 234,000.
Pakistan International Airlines, Saudi Airlines, and private carriers have agreed to transport pilgrims this year.
Thousands march in Pakistan’s Karachi in solidarity with Palestinians, demand ceasefire in Gaza
- The march, organized by Jamaat-e-Islami party, was attended by members of the civil society, professionals and common people
- Pakistan does not recognize Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on ‘internationally agreed parameters’
KARACHI: Tens of thousands of people, including women and children, on Sunday marched in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi to express solidarity with the Palestinians and demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
The march, organized by the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) religious party, was attended by members of the civil society, professionals and a large number of families.
The participants carried placards and banners, and chanted slogans against Israel as they marched along Karachi’s Seaview beach.
“Palestinians have been facing a bloodshed, genocide, bombardment, death and hunger for the past 450 days,” JI Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar said, calling for a cessation of Israeli military actions.
“The tragedy that unfolded in Gaza has divided the world into two poles: the people of conscience and the followers of might.”
Israel began pounding Gaza since October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas that resulted in the deaths of 1,208 people, according to official Israeli figures. Israeli attacks on Gaza have since killed 46,537 people, the majority civilians, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Pakistan does not recognize nor have diplomatic relations with Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters.”
The South Asian country has dispatched several relief consignments for Gaza, besides establishing the ‘Prime Minister’s Relief Fund’ that aims to collect public donations for the war-affected people.
Zafar hailed the people of Karachi for their show of solidarity with the Palestinians, urging them to continue boycotting Israeli products.
“It’s an obligation for the [Pakistani] nation to take side with the oppressed Palestinians,” he added.
During the march, the participants chanted slogans against continuing Israeli military actions in Gaza and urged the world to ensure a ceasefire in the territory.
Former provincial health minister of Sindh, Saad Khalid Niaz, criticized Israel for bombing hospitals and schools in Gaza.
“For the first time in the history, hospitals were bombed to ashes in a conflict,” he said, adding that expressing solidarity with the Palestinians has become a national obligation.
