Opposition demands Pakistan army clarify if top security body considers it 'traitors'

Pakistan opposition party leaders Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, left, Shahbaz Sharif, center, give a press conference in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, on April 4, 2022. (AP)
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Updated 04 April 2022
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Opposition demands Pakistan army clarify if top security body considers it 'traitors'

  • PM Imran Khan has accused the opposition of being part of US conspiracy to topple his government
  • NSC, headed by PM and comprising three services chiefs, has met to discuss the "foreign conspiracy"

ISLAMABAD: A top Pakistani opposition leader on Monday called on the country’s powerful military to clarify if the National Security Committee (NSC) had labeled opposition lawmakers “traitors” at a meeting last week to discuss an alleged conspiracy by the United States to oust Prime Minister Imran Khan from power in connivance with his political opponents.
In recent weeks, Khan has alleged that a no-confidence motion filed against him by the opposition was part of a foreign conspiracy, alleging that he had a “threatening” letter to prove his allegations.
Khan initially did not specify which country or personality had written the letter but it has since been revealed that the letter was written by Pakistan’s then ambassador to Washington, Asad Majeed Khan, after a meeting with US Under Secretary Donald Lu. Khan alleges the ambassador carried a “threatening” message from Lu, including that Pakistan’s ties with the US would decline further unless there was regime change in Islamabad.
The prime minister has accused nearly 200 opposition lawmakers of being in on the so-called conspiracy. On Sunday, the deputy speaker of the National Assembly, who belongs to Khan’s party, refused to allow scheduled voting on the no-confidence motion in light of it being orchestrated by a foreign power, and dismissed it on the grounds it was unconstitutional.
On the PM’s advice, the president subsequently dissolved the National Assembly and the federal cabinet.
Last week, the NSC, which is headed by the PM and includes the three services chiefs, also met to discuss the alleged “foreign conspiracy.” The US has denied any involvement.
“Ex-PM Imran Khan is using ‘foreign conspiracy’ to justify his coup,” Pakistan People’s Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardaro said on Twitter, calling on the army to clarify if the “NSC meeting declared the 197 members of NA [Nataional Assembly] traitors and part of a foreign plot.”
“Can foreign office or defense ministry produce any official correspondence between [March] 7-27 on foreign conspiracy?”

 

The Pakistan army has not yet responded to Bhutto-Zardari's demand. 
A statement issued after the March 31 meeting of the NSC discussed the “communication of a senior official of a foreign country” with Pakistan’s the US ambassador.
“The Committee expressed grave concern at the communication, terming the language used by the foreign official as undiplomatic,” the statement said. “The Committee concluded that the communication amounted to blatant interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan by the country in question, which was unacceptable under any circumstances.”
Pakistan subsequently sent a demarche to the United States.
The Pakistani military has not specifically commented on the “threatening” letter or the foreign conspiracy, but on Sunday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani army, distanced itself from Sunday’s political developments.
“Whatever happened today, the institution has nothing to do with it,” DG ISPR Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar, told media in response to a question.
“There is no involvement of the institution in these developments and there is no connection.”
To a question on whether the military’s consent or advice was sought before taking Sunday’s decisions, the ISPR DG said: “Absolutely not.”


Pakistan monsoon death toll rises to 116 after five more killed in last 24 hours

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Pakistan monsoon death toll rises to 116 after five more killed in last 24 hours

  • The development comes as authorities warn of more downpours, flooding over the next two days
  • At least 253 people have been injured in rain-related incidents since monsoon began in late June

ISLAMABAD: At least five more people were killed in rain-related incidents in Pakistan in the last 24 hours, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said on Tuesday, taking the overall monsoon death toll to 116 since late June.

In Punjab, two children died after being struck by lightning in Okara, while two others were killed in a house collapse in Bahawalnagar. A man was killed in a house collapse in Sindh’s Hyderabad. At least 253 people have been injured in rain-related incidents since monsoon began in late June.

In its latest report on Tuesday, the NDMA said monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal were penetrating into central parts of Pakistan and were likely to cause thunderstorm and heavy rains.

“Scattered to widespread thunderstorm/rain with isolated heavy falls and torrential rains at few places is expected over Bahawalpur, Multan, DG Khan, Sahiwal, Lahore, Gujranwala and Faisalabad Divisions,” it said.

“Scattered thunderstorm/rain with isolated heavy falls is expected over the upper catchments of all rivers along with Islamabad, upper Sindh, east Balochistan, Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, DI Khan, Rawalpindi and Sargodha Divisions.”

The authority said flash flooding due to hill torrents is expected in DG Khan and east Balochistan on July 15-16, while urban flooding is expected in major Punjab cities over the next two days.

The NDMA earlier directed authorities to ensure deployment of emergency teams, improve drainage systems and coordinate closely with local administration. It advised public to stay away from weak structures and electricity poles, avoid unnecessary travel and relocate vehicles and livestock to safer locations.

Monsoon season brings South Asia 70 to 80 percent of its annual rainfall, arriving in early June in India and late June in Pakistan, and lasting through until September.

The annual rains are vital for agriculture and food security, and the livelihoods of millions of farmers. But increasingly erratic and extreme weather patterns are turning the rains into a destructive force.

Pakistan is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change, and its 240 million residents are facing extreme weather events with increasing frequency.

In 2022, unprecedented monsoon floods submerged a third of Pakistan and killed 1,700 people, with some areas yet to recover from the damage. In May, at least 32 people were killed in severe storms, including strong hailstorms.


Pakistan regulator unveils gender policy to boost women’s role in corporate, finance sectors

Updated 9 min 13 sec ago
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Pakistan regulator unveils gender policy to boost women’s role in corporate, finance sectors

  • SECP releases draft Women EquiSmart Policy 2025–2028 for public consultation on its official website
  • It focuses on women’s leadership on boards, inclusive workplaces and gender-smart financial products

KARACHI: Pakistan’s top financial regulator on Tuesday launched a draft policy aimed at tackling gender inequality in the country’s corporate and financial sectors, seeking to improve women’s representation on company boards, expand access to finance for women entrepreneurs and make workplaces more inclusive.

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) published its Women EquiSmart Policy 2025–2028 for public consultation on its website, calling it the first comprehensive gender framework for regulated sectors such as capital markets, insurance and non-banking finance.

“The draft framework reflects the SECP’s strategic shift from fragmented diversity efforts to a structured, cohesive regulatory approach to gender inclusion, aligned with national priorities and global frameworks,” the regulator said in a statement.

The draft policy is built around six pillars, including women’s leadership on boards, gender-disaggregated reporting, women’s entrepreneurship, gender-smart financial products, inclusive workplace practices and institutional capacity building.

The statement said it identifies policy gaps, proposes timelines and regulatory actions and assigns roles to key stakeholders across the public and private sectors.

While Pakistan has seen efforts in recent years to promote workplace equality — such as corporate codes encouraging gender diversity — these have largely remained voluntary and inconsistently implemented.

SECP’s proposed framework seeks to introduce a more enforceable and measurable approach to gender inclusion.


Pakistan court orders probe into online blasphemy spike

Updated 15 July 2025
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Pakistan court orders probe into online blasphemy spike

  • There has been a spike in cases of mostly young men being arrested for committing blasphemy in WhatsApp groups since 2022
  • Rights groups, police say many are brought to trial by private law firms, who use volunteers to scour Internet for offenders

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan court ordered a government probe on Tuesday into allegations that young people are being entrapped in online blasphemy cases, following appeals from hundreds of families.

There has been a spike in cases of mostly young men being arrested for committing blasphemy in WhatsApp groups since 2022.

Rights groups and police have said that many are brought to trial by private law firms, who use volunteers to scour the Internet for offenders.

“The government will constitute a commission within a 30-day timeframe,” said Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan at Islamabad High Court, adding that the commission is required to submit its findings within four months.

Blasphemy is an incendiary charge in Muslim-majority Pakistan punishable by death, and even unsubstantiated accusations can incite public outrage, lead to lynchings and to families being shunned by society.

A report published by the government-run National Commission for Human Rights in October last year said there were 767 people, mostly young men, in jail awaiting trial over blasphemy allegations.

“This is a huge ray of hope and it’s the first time that the families have felt heard,” said lawyer Imaan Mazari, who represents the families of arrested men and women, of the court order.

“Youngsters have been falsely roped into cases of such a sensitive nature that the stigma will last forever even if they are acquitted,” she added.

A 2024 report by Punjab police into the sudden spike in cases, that was leaked to the media, found that “a suspicious gang was trapping youth in blasphemy cases” and may be motivated by financial gain.

The Legal Commission on Blasphemy Pakistan (LCBP) is the most active of lawyers groups prosecuting young men in Pakistan.

Sheraz Ahmad Farooqi, one of the group’s leaders, told AFP in October that “God has chosen them for this noble cause.”

In recent years, several youngsters have been convicted and handed death sentences, although no execution has ever been carried out for blasphemy in Pakistan.

“We will fully support the probe commission and are confident that our voices will finally be listened to, our concerns will be heard, and the truth will come out,” the relative of one of the accused, who asked not to be named because of the backlash, told AFP.


‘World’s oldest marathon runner’ dies aged 114 in road accident

Updated 15 July 2025
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‘World’s oldest marathon runner’ dies aged 114 in road accident

  • Fauja Singh gained global fame after taking up long-distance running at 89, completing marathons past 100
  • Tributes pour in for Sikh athlete who inspired generations with message of resilience, fitness and faith

NEW DELHI: India’s Fauja Singh, believed to be the world’s oldest distance runner, has died in a road accident aged 114, his biographer said Tuesday.

Singh, an Indian-born British national, nicknamed the “Turbaned Tornado,” died after being hit by a vehicle in Punjab state’s Jalandhar district on Monday.

“My Turbaned Tornado is no more,” Fauja’s biographer Khushwant Singh wrote on X.

“He was struck by an unidentified vehicle... in his village, Bias, while crossing the road. Rest in peace, my dear Fauja.”

Singh did not have a birth certificate but his family said he was born on April 1, 1911.

He ran full marathons (42 kilometer) till the age of 100.

His last race was a 10-kilometer (six-mile) event at the 2013 Hong Kong Marathon when 101, where he finished in one hour, 32 minutes and 28 seconds.

He became an international sensation after taking up distance running at the ripe old age of 89, after the death of his wife and one of his sons, inspired by seeing marathons on television.

Although widely regarded as the world’s oldest marathon runner, he was not certified by Guinness World Records as he could not prove his age, saying that birth certificates did not exist when he was born under British colonial rule in 2011.

Singh was a torchbearer for the Olympics at Athens 2004 and London 2012, and appeared in advertisements with sports stars such as David Beckham and Muhammad Ali.

His strength and vitality were credited to a routine of farm walks and a diet including Indian sweet “laddu” packed with dry fruits and home-churned curd.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute on social media.

“Fauja Singh was extraordinary because of his unique persona and the manner in which he inspired the youth of India on a very important topic of fitness,” said Modi on X

“He was an exceptional athlete with incredible determination. Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and countless admirers around the world.”


AI Umrah assistant to cut costs, enhance experience for Pakistan’s 2 million annual pilgrims

Updated 30 min 41 sec ago
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AI Umrah assistant to cut costs, enhance experience for Pakistan’s 2 million annual pilgrims

  • Launched by Umrah Companions last week, “Ibraheem” offers personalized guidance in multiple languages, including Urdu
  • Pilgrims from Pakistan face confusing logistics, language barriers and high costs due to inefficient travel agency practices

ISLAMABAD: A Saudi-backed consortium has launched what it says is the world’s first artificial intelligence-powered Umrah advisor, “Ibraheem,” aimed at simplifying pilgrimage planning and reducing costs for millions of Muslims, including more than two million Pakistanis who travel to the Kingdom each year.

Ibraheem has been developed by Pakistani company Umrah Companions and is powered by Funadiq, a Saudi-based Destination Management Company specializing in Hajj and Umrah services.

The tool was launched last week and is designed to offer pilgrims personalized guidance in multiple languages, including Urdu and Roman Urdu, with the goal of cutting Umrah-related expenses by as much as 20 percent.

Pakistan is among the world’s largest pilgrimage markets, with over $5 billion spent annually by citizens traveling for Umrah and Hajj.

“Today, 93% of global Muslims cannot afford Hajj and Umrah. It is too expensive,” said Mohammad Salman Arain, CEO of Umrah Companions, in an interview with Arab News. “It is becoming expensive because we are not removing the inefficiencies in the processes — and that is what our mission is.”

Mohammad Salman Arain, CEO of Umrah Companions, speaks to Arab News during an interview in Islamabad on July 14, 2025, about his newly launched AI-powered Umrah advisor, “Ibraheem.” The tool is designed to simplify pilgrimage planning and reduce costs for millions of Muslims. (AN Photo)

Pakistanis often face language barriers, lack of personalized travel information, and high costs when arranging Umrah trips through human agents, many of whom offer fixed packages with little customization. Arain said the AI assistant overcomes these issues by adapting to each user’s needs, whether they are traveling with elderly parents, young children, or have budget constraints.

The platform currently supports ten languages, including Urdu, Roman Urdu, Arabic and English, and provides real-time recommendations on flights, hotels, food, weather, medical facilities and even services such as wheelchair availability near the Haram in Makkah.

"Ibraheem," the newly launched AI-powered Umrah advisor, responds to a command from Arab News during an interactive session in Islamabad. (AN Photo)

“You can start with a very simple question: ‘I want to travel in August. Give me an estimated budget for four people,’” Arain said. “Ibraheem will then suggest premium or budget options, tell you whether hotels are suitable for elderly companions, and help build your itinerary.”

The tool’s language offerings and its flexibility for use on smartphones and low-bandwidth environments make it particularly suitable for Pakistani blue- and white-collar workers living in the Gulf, a group that often lacks access to transparent and user-friendly tech tools for pilgrimage planning.

Mohammad Salman Arain, CEO of Umrah Companions, briefs Arab News on his newly launched AI-powered Umrah advisor, “Ibraheem,” during an interview in Islamabad on July 14, 2025. The tool aims to simplify pilgrimage planning and reduce costs for millions of Muslims. (AN Photo)

“We are building to make everybody's life easier. It is not for us only,” Arain added. “This is available for everyone and every single Muslim in the world.”

Umrah Companions is also working on outreach to Pakistani freelancers and overseas workers through diplomatic missions, Pakistani banks, and diaspora associations, especially in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where a majority of Pakistani pilgrims are based.

While the service is focused on Umrah for now, Arain said it was already learning and being trained for Hajj season.

Once a pilgrim arrives in the Kingdom, the AI agent continues to provide support, from locating wheelchairs at Haram gates to suggesting restaurants and responding to emergencies, the chief executive explained.

The tool has already contributed to a 25% increase in website traffic, according to Arain, and is currently being built as an open platform available for use by all Muslims, regardless of which company they book their pilgrimage through.

The handout photograph released on July 14, 2025, shows Salman Arain (left), CEO of Funadiq.com, Sattam Hamdan M. Algethami (center), CEO of Maather Hospitality Group, and Anas Ammar, CEO of Emaar Al Diyafa Group, posing for a group photo. (Photo Courtesy: Salman Arain)

The launch of the AI platform also aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goal to improve the pilgrimage experience through digital transformation and accessibility.

Arain said the initiative complements the Kingdom’s efforts to modernize religious tourism and ensure cost-effective pilgrimage options for lower-income Muslims.

“We believe this is going to revolutionize [pilgrimage],” Arain said, “and it is very much in line with what the Saudi Vision 2030 is doing to enhance the pilgrimage experience.”