KARACHI: Sindh’s new governor, Imran Ismail, won over several residents after he saw through his promise and opened the Governor House for visitors on Sunday.
Ismail, who is also a prominent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party leader, had vowed to allow students and families access to the historic building after being sworn in on August 27.
Maintaining that his official residence was a “national heritage”, Ismail said on Friday: “In the first phase, visitors will be able to access the park inside the facility. In the second phase, we will start guided tours to some portions of the building.”
There was an overwhelming response to the decision, with hundreds queuing up to get into the building and Ismail personally greeting and taking pictures with the visitors.
“We used to see the outer walls of this building, knowing it was only frequented by influential people,” Razia Anwar, a resident of the city, told Arab News. “But Imran Khan and his party have made us feel special. We are now waiting for the time when they will open the Prime Minister House to the public too,” she said.
Others were not very impressed. “We can visit parks anywhere in the city,” Ahmed Ali, 42, said. “They should also open other portions of the building.”
Tahir Hasan Khan, a senior political correspondent, explained that the Governor House was once open to students, but later closed due to “security reasons”. “After assuming charge as the province’s governor in March 1997, retired Lt. Gen. Moinuddin Haider prohibited that for security reasons. The general public, however, was never allowed inside, and the PTI should, therefore, be hailed for this decision,” Khan said.
He also suggested that the authorities should have proper procedures in place, such as guided tours, for a seamless visit.
His thoughts were echoed by those people unable to get through the gates. “I was in the queue since 5pm,” Shahreyar Khan, a resident of the city, said. “But I was asked to go back when entry time was over. They need to have better procedures. Only those people who book in advance should be allowed inside,” he said.
The original building was constructed by Sir Charles Napier for his personal use in 1843. The government of India “purchased it from him when he left in 1847 following which the structure was occupied by Sindh’s Commissioner”, Saleem Khan, a Governor House spokesperson, said. The construction of the new Governor House began in 1936.
“The suite occupied by the Quaid-e-Azam (Muhammad Ali Jinnah) and Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah is called the Royal Suite. It was later used by visiting heads of state and other important personalities,” the spokesperson said.
The building’s Darbar Hall, where oath-taking ceremonies are held, houses a historic throne that was made for King Edward VII, during his tour of India as the Prince of Wales, in 1876. It was also used by Queen Mary during the coronation of Emperor George V, in Delhi, in 1911.
“The main lawn and terrace are the place where Quaid-e-Azam took the oath as the first Governor General of Pakistan,” Khan said. “Several other governor generals, presidents and governors of Sindh have also received salutes on national days from smartly turned out contingents of young and energetic soldiers.”
Besides the historical nuggets that the place has to offer, it also houses a priceless relic — exhibited near the entrance of the Darbar Hall. A piece of cloth that adorns the Kaaba in Makkah, the “kiswat Al-ka`bah” was gifted by King Faisal of Saudi Arabia and is beautifully-encased in a glass frame.
The building was called Governor General House until 26 March 1956, when Iskander Mirza became the first president of the country. It remained President House until July 1970 when it was renamed Governor House.
Taking cognizance of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s austerity drive – where he intends to convert official residences into educational institutes – Ismail said that the fate of the Governor House had yet to be decided. “A committee is already working on the idea and will soon present its recommendations to the prime minister on alternative uses of these buildings.”
Visitors can access the building from 6am to 10am on weekdays and 4.30pm to 6.30pm on Sundays.
Hundreds throng to Governor House as Sindh opens doors to public
Hundreds throng to Governor House as Sindh opens doors to public
- Historic building was constructed during the British colonial period and also used by Pakistan’s founding fathe
- Governor Ismail welcomes visitors to his official residence considered by many as a “national heritage”
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Bomb attack on convoy of foreign diplomats kills one policeman in Pakistan’s northwest
- The blast targeted the convoy in Swat’s Malam Jabba, a popular tourist resort in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province
- Pakistan’s foreign office says the group of foreign diplomats has returned safely to federal capital of Islamabad
PESHAWAR: A roadside bomb attack on a convoy of foreign diplomats in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province killed at least one policeman and injured three others on Sunday, a senior police officer said, amid a spike in militant violence in the restive region.
The blast targeted the convoy in Swat’s Malam Jabba, a popular tourist resort in northwestern Pakistan, according to Swat District Police Officer (DPO) Dr. Zahidullah Khan and the Pakistani foreign office.
An advance scout police vehicle was hit by the blast, which resulted in the killing of the policeman and injuries to three others. The group of foreign diplomats has returned safely to Islamabad.
Pakistan has seen a rise in militant attacks in recent weeks, with many of them taking place in KP that borders Afghanistan where Islamabad says groups like the outlawed Pakistani Taliban are hiding and from where they daily target police and security forces.
“It was an improvised explosive device (IED) blast targeting police escorting the foreign diplomats who were visiting different scenic spots in Swat, including religious sites,” DPO Khan told Arab News. “All the diplomats remained safe and returned from Malam Jabba valley.”
Pakistan’s foreign office said the foreign diplomats had returned to the Pakistani capital, extending sympathies to the families of the deceased and injured policemen.
“We honor our law enforcement authorities that remain steadfast in the face of terrorists,” it said in a statement. “Such acts will not deter Pakistan from its commitment toward the fight against terrorism.”
Asked about the countries to which the diplomats belonged, Swat Deputy Commissioner Shehzad Mehboob said it was premature to share all the information at the moment.
“We are in the process of confirming their countries of origin, but mainly they are from Central Asian and European countries,” he told Arab News.
KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur condemned the attack and expressed sorrow over the killing of a police officer in its wake, according to his office.
“The chief minister has directed senior police officers to investigate the matter and compile a detailed report into the incident,” Gandapur’s office said.
Swat, known for its picturesque landscape and historic religious sites, hosts thousands of local and foreign tourists each year.
In 2007, the Pakistani Taliban seized partial control of the district before being ousted two years later in a major military operation. During this time, the militants had unleashed a reign of terror, killing and beheading politicians, singers, soldiers and opponents. They had banned woman education and destroyed nearly 200 schools for girls.
KP, which borders Afghanistan, has witnessed numerous attacks on police, security forces and anti-polio vaccination teams along with kidnappings of civil and military officials in recent months.
Earlier this week, militants opened fire on a security post in KP’s South Waziristan district and killed at least six Pakistani soldiers, the military said.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, including the one on Sunday, but officials in Islamabad say militants associated with the Pakistani Taliban are primarily responsible for violence in the region. Islamabad has even blamed Kabul’s Afghan Taliban rulers for “facilitating” anti-Pakistan militants, a charge Kabul denies.
Islamabad police dismiss three cops for harassment, illegal detention of couple
- A police team humiliated and harassed the couple as well as demanded bribe from them after they failed to provide a marriage certificate
- Last year, Transparency International Pakistan's National Corruption Perception Survey identified police as the 'most corrupt institution'
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad police have dismissed three cops for harassing, blackmailing and illegally detaining a married couple who was visiting a picnic spot in Pakistan's federal capital, a police spokesman said on Sunday.
The couple was en route to Shahdara picnic spot this month and were stopped by a police mobile team in the jurisdiction of the Bharakahu police station, which asked for their marriage certificate. The policemen on duty humiliated and harassed the couple and demanded bribe after they failed to furnish the marriage certificate, according to Islamabad police spokesman Jawad Taqi.
Police constables Asfand Ayaz, Nayab and Sami Ullah separated the woman from her husband and sat her in a police vehicle, where one officer harassed her and took her phone number. Later, another constable, Naimatullah Baloch, repeatedly contacted her on her phone and threatened her for refusing his demands. The couple lodged a complaint with Islamabad's deputy inspector-general for operations and an inquiry confirmed the officers' misconduct.
“As soon as the complaint was lodged, the SSP [senior superintendent of police] investigated the matter and after a thorough inquiry, the three officers involved were terminated from their jobs this week,” Taqi told Arab News on Sunday.
To ensure internal accountability, the spokesman shared, the Islamabad police had a dedicated department, called the Internal Accountability Unit, within the office of the Islamabad police chief.
“Additionally, there is a separate IG [Inspector-General] Islamabad helpline 1715, where complaints against the police can be made in case of any misconduct,” he added.
Taqi emphasized the importance of a proper self-accountability mechanism to ensure that “any individuals damaging the institution's reputation or abusing their authority are held accountable through departmental procedures.”
In a separate case last month, Asim Zaidi, in-charge of the Sangjani police station in Islamabad, was arrested over illegal detention of two citizens, Muhammad Saeed and Shahbaz, for 19 days, without any charges, according to the Islamabad police. The illegal detention came to light after families of the detainees approached a local court. A police inquiry revealed that a case filed by Zaidi against the detainees was "delayed and improper."
In Pakistan, police harassment of citizens has been a pressing issue for years, with numerous reports of citizens facing mistreatment, abuse and unlawful detention. According to the National Corruption Perception Survey 2023 conducted by the Transparency International Pakistan (TIP), police were the "most corrupt institution" in the South Asian country.
Attack on foreign diplomats’ convoy in Pakistan kills police officer, police say
- Another four police officers were wounded in the attack, official says
- All diplomats were safe and were heading back to capital Islamabad
PESHAWAR: A roadside bomb hit a convoy of foreign diplomats visiting northwest Pakistan on Sunday, killing a police officer in their security detail, police said.
Swat district police officer Zahidullah Khan said the diplomats were visiting the Swat valley area on the invitation of local chamber of commerce.
“The squad that was leading the convoy was hit by a roadside bomb,” he said.
Another four police officers were wounded, Khan said.
All the nearly dozen diplomats were safe and were heading back to Islamabad, police said.
“All the ambassadors remained safe in the attack and had been shifted to a safe place before their departure to Islamabad,” Deputy Inspector General of police Mohammad Ali Gandapur told Reuters.
The nationality of the diplomats was not immediately clear. A Pakistani foreign office spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.
No one claimed responsibility for the attack.
Pakistani counter-terrorist forces maintain a strong presence in the Swat valley, which has long been a hotbed of Islamist militant insurgency. The militants have stepped up their attacks since late 2022 after breaking a ceasefire with the government.
In 2012, Islamist militants shot and wounded Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai in the valley.
Saudi embassy holds cultural exhibition in Lahore to mark Kingdom’s 94th National Day
- The Saudi National Day is celebrated each year on September 23 to commemorate the proclamation of the Kingdom in 1932 by King Abdulaziz
- The Lahore event was attended by Saudi ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki, Punjab Governor Saleem Haider Khan and other dignitaries
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Pakistan said on Sunday it had held an exhibition in Pakistan’s cultural heart of Lahore to celebrate the Kingdom’s 94th National Day.
The Saudi National Day is celebrated each year on September 23 to commemorate the proclamation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932 by King Abdulaziz.
The Saudi National Day event in Lahore included an exhibition of the Kingdom’s cultural heritage, which was attended by Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki, Punjab Governor Saleem Haider Khan and other dignitaries.
“Pakistani brothers showed their presence and feelings of love with us [at the event],” the Saudi embassy said on X.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong economic, defense and religious ties. The Kingdom is home to over 2.7 million Pakistani expatriates, serving as the top source of remittances for the cash-strapped South Asian country.
Saudi Arabia has also often come to cash-strapped Pakistan’s aid by regularly providing it oil on deferred payments and offering direct financial support to help stabilize its economy and shore up its forex reserves.
“Saudi Arabia supported Pakistan in difficult circumstances and stood by Pakistan in every hour of need,” Governor Khan said, highlighting the strong ties between the two counties.
Three counter-terrorism officials killed in militant attack in Pakistan’s Balochistan
- Militant ambushed an Anti-Terrorist Force vehicle in Balochistan’s Zhob district late on Saturday night
- Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, has been the site of a decades-long separatist insurgency
QUETTA: Unidentified militants attacked a vehicle of the Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF) and killed three officials in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, a senior police official said on Sunday.
Pakistan’s largest province of Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan and is home to major China-led projects such as a strategic port and a gold and copper mine, has been the site of a decades-long separatist insurgency by ethnic Baloch militants.
The militants ambushed the ATF vehicle in Zhob, a remote district bordering the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, late on Saturday night, according to Superintendent of Police Saboor Agha. The ATF members were en route to Dera Ismail Khan after handing over a prisoner to authorities in Zhob.
“One soldier was killed at the ambush site, while two others succumbed to gunshot wounds on their to provincial headquarters of Quetta,” SP Agha told Arab News. “A fourth soldier injured in the attack is being treated in Quetta.”
Saturday’s attack occurred on the Zhob-Dera Ismail Khan highway close to Balochistan’s border with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where militants, particularly from the Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have intensified attacks against security forces in recent months.
Last month, separatist militants hit several civil and military targets in a string of coordinated attacks in Balochistan, killing more than 50 people. The attacks prompted Pakistani military to gun down a dozen militants in separate operations in the province.
The separatists accuse the central government of exploiting Balochistan’s mineral and gas resources. The Pakistani state denies the allegation and says it is working to uplift the region through development initiatives.
Islamabad says militants mainly associated with the banned TTP frequently launch attacks from Afghanistan and has even blamed Kabul’s Afghan Taliban rulers for facilitating anti-Pakistan militants. Kabul denies the charges.
