ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, was released from the central prison in Rawalpindi on Thursday a day after being granted bail in a case related to the sale of state gifts, ending nine months of her detention while her husband met his legal team in jail on the high court’s directions.
Bibi was released from jail after spending 265 days in the case after the Islamabad High Court granted her bail on Wednesday. Her release also takes place six months after an appeals court suspended a 14-year sentence the couple received after being found guilty of retaining and selling state gifts in violation of government rules when Khan was Pakistan’s prime minister.
The former prime minister and his wife, however, were charged in July with new counts of retaining state gifts and kept in detention pending trial. Both deny any wrongdoing.
“Bushra BiBi, the former first lady, has been released from prison,” Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said in a statement.
Following her release, Bibi traveled to her residence in Islamabad’s Bani Gala area in a motorcade from the jail, where she was greeted by the party’s charged supporters.
KHAN MEETS LAWYERS IN PRISON
Earlier on Thursday, the IHC directed Central Prison Rawalpindi’s administration to produce Khan in court by 3:00 p.m. to facilitate a meeting with his lawyers.
“Bring Imran Khan to Islamabad High Court at 3 p.m. to arrange his meeting with his lawyers,” Justice Ijaz Ishaq Khan remarked during a hearing. “I know you won’t implement my orders, but let me issue directions.”
The development followed Khan’s legal team moving the court, complaining that prison officials were preventing them and the ex-premier’s family from meeting him. Khan has been imprisoned for over a year, facing various charges, including corruption and sedition.
The prison authorities did not present Khan before the court by 3 p.m. but allowed the PTI founder to meet his lawyers at the Rawalpindi prison.
“Imran Khan is being kept in a six by eight cell [in the jail] and taken out of that cage for an hour and a half,” advocate Faisal Fareed told reporters after meeting Khan with PTI secretary-general Salman Akram Raja.
Fareed said he would file a petition in the high court regarding the dismal condition in which Khan was being kept in jail.
Currently, the former prime minister is incarcerated in the state repository case, involving the possession of a jewelry set comprising a ring, bracelet, necklace and earrings gifted to his wife by a foreign dignitary. The couple allegedly undervalued the set and retained it at a lower price.
The judge’s remark to produce Khan in court came amid an ongoing tussle between the executive and the judiciary, with the latter accusing the country’s powerful military and intelligence agencies of exerting pressure to secure favorable verdicts in political cases, particularly those involving Khan.
The military and intelligence agencies have denied these allegations, maintaining that they do not interfere in political matters.
Khan has not physically appeared in a court since August last year, with all hearings being held in the high-security Rawalpindi prison due to security concerns.
For the last two weeks, the Punjab government has banned all meetings with Khan and other prisoners in the jail, citing security reasons.
Khan’s legal team has struggled to secure his release, arguing that all charges against him are fabricated to keep him out of politics.
Former Pakistan PM Khan’s wife released on bail after nine months of incarceration
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Former Pakistan PM Khan’s wife released on bail after nine months of incarceration
- Bushra Bibi released from prison after securing bail in case related to sale of state gifts
- Rawalpindi prison authorities allow Imran Khan to meet lawyers in jail on court’s directions
India arrests two for harboring Kashmir attackers
- Suspects provided food, shelter, logistical support to “terrorists” who killed tourists in Pahalgam, says Indian agency
- Pahalgam attack led to armed military confrontation between India and Pakistan in May in which over 70 were killed
SRINAGAR, India: New Delhi’s counter-terrorism agency said Sunday it has arrested two men in India-administered Kashmir for allegedly harboring Pakistani gunmen behind a deadly attack on civilians that sparked a days-long conflict between the two countries.
India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) said the two suspects were from the Pahalgam area, where gunmen killed 26 people two months ago.
“The two men had provided food, shelter and logistical support to the terrorists, who had... selectively killed the tourists on the basis of their religious identity,” a statement by NIA said. The majority of those killed were Hindu men.
The agency identified the two men as Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, claiming the duo “have disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack,” and have confirmed they were Pakistani nationals affiliated to the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) group.
New Delhi has accused Pakistan of backing the attack without making public any evidence, and Islamabad has denied the charge.
The April 22 killings triggered a series of tit-for-tat diplomatic measures by the nuclear-armed countries and led to intense exchanges of missile, drone and artillery fire.
The four-day conflict left more than 70 people dead on both sides.
Muslim-majority Kashmir has been divided between the South Asian rivals — claimed by both in full — since their independence from British rule in 1947, and the neighbors have fought two wars over its control.
Rebel groups, demanding the divided region’s independence or merger with Pakistan, have waged an insurgency since 1989.
Pakistan condemns US attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, calls for immediate end to conflict
- US military launched air attacks targeting Iran’s key nuclear facilities on Sunday morning
- Pakistan says “gravely concerned” at possible further escalation of tensions in the region
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office condemned the United States’ attacks targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities on Sunday, warning of the possibility of a wider war in the Middle East as it called for an immediate end to the conflict.
The development took place hours after the US military struck three sites in Iran early Sunday, joining Israel’s war aimed at destroying the country’s nuclear program. US President Donald Trump warned Iran against carrying out retaliatory attacks, saying Washington could hit more targets “with precision, speed and skill.”
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran confirmed that attacks took place on its Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz sites, but it insisted that its work will not be stopped.
“Pakistan condemns the US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities which follow the series of attacks by Israel,” the foreign office said. “We are gravely concerned at the possible further escalation of tensions in the region.”
Pakistan said the American attacks violate all norms of international law, adding that Iran has the legitimate right to defend itself under the UN Charter.
“The unprecedented escalation of tension and violence, owing to ongoing aggression against Iran is deeply disturbing,” the foreign office warned. “Any further escalation of tensions will have severely damaging implications for the region and beyond.”
Pakistan highlighted the need to respect civilian lives and properties and immediately bring the conflict to an end. It called on all parties to adhere to international law, particularly International Humanitarian Law.
"Recourse to dialogue, diplomacy, in line with the principles and purposes of the UN Charter remain the only viable pathway to resolve the crises in the region," it concluded.
‘DOUBLE STANDARDS’
Separately, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar criticized the international community for its “double standards” concerning Israel’s military aggression against Iran, calling for a peaceful resolution to Tehran’s nuclear program dispute in an earlier statement.
Dar was speaking at a special session convened at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Istanbul.
Pakistan has consistently called on the international community to rein in Israel, especially since it launched military operations in Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, that have killed over 55,000 people there.
“Excellencies, double standards are on full display when it comes to Israel,” Dar said during a televised session at the special OIC meeting.
“There is no talk of the rule of law, the rules-based international order or consequences for illegal actions. This impunity must end.”
Dar, who also serves as Pakistan’s foreign minister, told OIC member states that Israel’s action against Iran is part of a “dangerous and consistent pattern of militarism” that it has demonstrated across the Middle East.
“Israeli aggression represents a dangerous escalation, and is a serious threat to peace and stability, not only of the region, but of the wider world as well,” he noted.
The Iran-Israel conflict began on June 13 when Tel Aviv targeted Iran’s military leadership and nuclear facilities through air strikes, saying the country was close to developing an atomic weapon.
Iran denied the allegations, saying its civil nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and has since then retaliated with missile attacks.
Ten days of continuous conflict between the Middle East foes have killed at least 400 people in Iran and injured 3,000, according to Iran’s health ministry, while the death toll in Israel from Iran’s retaliatory strikes remains at 24.
Five militants killed, two CTD personnel injured in southwest Pakistan— police
- Balochistan CTD carry out intelligence-based operation in Killa Abdullah district, say police
- Pakistani Taliban militants have carried out deadly attacks against law enforcers since decades
QUETTA: Five militants were killed while two Balochistan Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel were injured during a counterterror operation in southwestern Pakistan this week, CTD said.
The CTD said its personnel conducted an intelligence-based operation in Jungle Pir Alizai area of Balochistan’s volatile Killah Abdullah district on Saturday when the exchange between the Pakistani Taliban or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants and law enforcers took place.
“In an exchange of fire, five suspected terrorists were killed,” the CTD spokesperson said in a statement released Saturday night. “Weapons and explosives were recovered from the terrorists during the operation,” it added.
CTD said maps of “sensitive locations” and other items were also recovered from the slain militants, adding that they were involved in militant activities in Pishin and Killa Abdullah districts.
The TTP has launched some of the deadliest attacks in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and southwestern Balochistan provinces targeting civilians and law enforcers since 2007.
Pakistan has suffered a surge in militant attacks in KP and Balochistan since November 2022 when peace talks between the state and the TTP broke down.
Pakistan blames the Afghan government in Kabul for sheltering TTP militants that carry out attacks against Islamabad. The Afghan Taliban deny the allegations and have urged Islamabad to resolve its security challenges internally.
The TTP has mainly carried out its operations in KP though it has also targeted Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by land mass yet its most backward by almost all social and economic indicators.
Balochistan has been rocked by a low-level insurgency for decades, where ethnic Baloch separatists accuse Islamabad of denying locals a share in the province’s natural and mineral resources.
Pakistan denies the allegations and says it is carrying out several health, educational and development projects in the province.
Pakistan regulator advises oil companies to maintain 20-day stocks as Iran-Israel conflict escalates
Pakistan regulator advises oil companies to maintain 20-day stocks as Iran-Israel conflict escalates
- Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority clarifies Pakistan holds “sufficient stocks” to meet current demand
- Experts have warned of spiraling inflation, oil supply constraints due to ongoing Iran-Israel conflict
ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) confirmed on Sunday it has advised oil marketing companies to maintain their mandatory 20-day stock levels, clarifying the country holds “sufficient stocks” of petroleum products as the Iran-Israel conflict intensifies.
Local media outlets reported this week that Pakistani authorities have accelerated oil imports as the Iran-Israel conflict rages on. The conflict took a turn for the worse early Sunday after the US military struck three sites in Iran, inserting itself into Israel’s war aimed at destroying the country’s nuclear program in a risky gambit that could spark a wider regional conflict.
Experts have warned of spiraling inflation and global oil supply constraints due to the ongoing Middle East conflict. Concern is focused on potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one‑fifth of global oil transits, and weak supply growth from Iran, which produces about 3.3 million barrels per day. Analysts caution any sustained spike could drive up global freight rates, insurance premiums and inflation, particularly in energy‑importing countries like Pakistan.
“The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has confirmed that the country currently holds sufficient stocks of petroleum products to meet existing demand,” OGRA spokesperson Imran Ghaznavi said in a statement.
“However, in view of anticipated future requirements and the prevailing market situation, OGRA has formally advised all Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to ensure the maintenance of their mandatory 20-day stock levels, in line with the conditions stipulated in their respective licenses.”
The spokesperson said OGRA remains committed to monitoring the ongoing situation in the Middle East closely and will continue to take “proactive steps” to ensure national energy security.
Pakistan relies heavily on imported oil, meaning that any sustained spike in prices could widen its current account deficit and push inflation higher at a time when the country is struggling with low foreign reserves and slow growth.
The Israel-Iran conflict started on June 13 when Israel launched a massive wave of attacks targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities but also hitting residential areas, sparking retaliation and fears of a broader regional conflict.
Over 400, mostly civilians have been killed in Iran so far, while Israel has reported 24 civilian deaths in retaliatory strikes by Tehran and over 1,200 injured.
Pakistan has condemned Israel’s strikes against Iran and has called on world powers to intervene for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East through dialogue and diplomacy.
Pakistan re-elected to OIC’s human rights commission till 2028
- Former diplomat Riffat Masood to represent Pakistan at commission, says Deputy PM Ishaq Dar
- Commission deliberates on key issues such as women’s rights, Islamophobia, extremism and others
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been re-elected to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) human rights commission from 2025-2028, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said this week, thanking member states for their support.
The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) is an expert body with advisory capacity established by the OIC as one of the principal organs working independently in human rights.
Since it was launched in 2011, the commission has deliberated on important issues such as the rights of women and children, the right to development, combating Islamophobia, extremism and intolerance as well as human rights situations in different countries.
“Pakistan has been re-elected today to the OIC-Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) for the period 2025-2028 on the sidelines of ongoing meetings of the Council of Foreign Ministers in Istanbul,” Dar, who also serves as Pakistan’s foreign minister, wrote on X on Saturday.
Dar said former Pakistani ambassador Riffat Masood will represent Pakistan at the Commission.
“We thank the Member States for their support & commend IPHRC’s vital role in promoting respect for Human Rights globally,” the Pakistani minister concluded.
At the 51st session of the OIC’s CFM in Istanbul, Dar voiced alarm over escalating tensions in the Middle East, blaming Israel’s military actions in Gaza and recent strikes in Iran for deepening instability and humanitarian crisis in the region.
The high-level conference was held at a moment of crisis for several OIC member states. Two of the bloc’s key countries — Pakistan and Iran — have recently experienced military escalations with regional rivals.
“Israeli aggression against Iran is not an isolated event,” Dar said in his address to the forum on Saturday night. “It is part of a dangerous and consistent pattern of militarism that Israel has demonstrated across the Middle East.”
