Page 3 - Pakistan

European aviation watchdog lifts ban on PIA for Europe flights: Pakistan

The European aviation watchdog has lifted the ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the country's national flag carrier, for flights to Europe, a minister said on Friday. The ban was imposed on the PIA in 2020 due to safety concerns in the wake of an air crash in Karachi which left nearly 100 people dead. Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif said the European Commission and European Aviation Safety Agency lifted the ban, terming the development as a huge success for Pakistan. It is a momentous day to announce that the European Commission and EASA have lifted the suspension on PIA flights to Europe, he said in a post on X. Asif said the development was made possible due to the aviation ministry's complete focus on strengthening the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and ensuring safety oversight in line with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Our government has taken significant measures to strengthen PCAA, including enactment of PCAA Act, smoot

1,000 detained, 10 dead: What's behind Pakistan's latest political chaos?

With the political standoff between the government and Imran Khan supporters showing no sign of abating, Pakistan finds itself once again teetering on the edge of instability

Pakistan, China hold military level talks on counter-terrorism, security

Pakistan and China military officials held talks on counter-terrorism and regional security amid unease following the recent attacks on Chinese nationals. General Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) China and one of China's two top military leaders, is visiting Pakistan along with a high-level delegation, according to a military statement. General Zhang held a one-on-one meeting with Army Chief Gen Asim Munir on Wednesday, followed by delegation-level discussions. According to the statement, the engagements focused on matters of mutual interest, regional security dynamics, measures for regional stability, and enhancing bilateral defence cooperation. General Zhang spoke about Pakistan's ongoing counter-terrorism efforts, which remain a key topic of discussion between the two countries due to the rising frequency of attacks targeting Chinese nationals working in Pakistan. Newspaper Dawn reported that there have been media reports that Beijing is seek

US mission to Pakistan issues security alert, cites threat to Serena Hotel

'Do Not Travel' advisory by the US asks American citizens to follow guidelines such as avoiding the location, exercising caution, reviewing a personal security plan, monitoring local media for updates

Pak violence: 10 killed, 21 injured in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa despite ceasefire

At least 10 more people have been killed and 21 others injured as sporadic clashes continued between Sunni and Shia tribes despite a cease-fire brokered between the two warring communities in Pakistan's restive northwest, police said on Wednesday. The latest violence took place on Tuesday in Kurram district, bordering Afghanistan, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. At least 10 people died and 21 others injured in the sporadic tribal sectarian violence, police said. "An agreement has been reached for an extension of the cease-fire for another 10 days," Deputy Commissioner of Kurram Javedullah Mehsud said. The deputy commissioner stated that during the past week, 100 people have lost their lives, and 180 others have been injured in the clashes. He further mentioned that all parties will vacate their positions starting tomorrow, adding that both police and army personnel will remain deployed in Kurram. The clashes between Alizai and Bagan tribes in Kurram district started on Friday la

From cricket hero to Pakistan's ousted PM: Imran Khan's tumultuous journey

From captaining Pakistan's national team to its first World Cup victory in 1992 to leading protests and facing legal battles, here's a look at Imran Khan's career

Protests in Islamabad turn violent: All you need to know about the unrest

In response to the escalating violence in Pakistan's Islamabad, the government has banned public gatherings while schools remain closed, and intercity travel has been heavily restricted

Who is Bushra Bibi? Imran Khan's third wife, leading protest in Pakistan

Once shy of public appearances, former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's third wife, Bushra Bibi has now become the face of nationwide protests demanding his release from jail

Imran Khan's supporters end protests after Pakistan govt's crackdown

There is a search operation ongoing and a large number of protesters who started a sit-in in Islamabad to demand Khan's release from jail have been arrested

Iskcon leader arrest, telecom stock rally, protests over Imran Khan release & more

Protests turn deadly in Pak; army deployed, shoot-at-sight orders issued

Pakistan deployed the army amid a tense stand-off with Imran Khan's supporters

Deadly violence erupts as Imran Khan's supporters march on Islamabad

Naqvi, the interior minister, told reporters Monday, after attending the funeral for the policeman, that dozens of officers were injured in Islamabad, two of them in critical condition, and that

US calls on Pakistani govt to respect human rights, fundamental freedoms

As thousands in Pakistan defied a crackdown to rally for the release of former prime minister Imran Khan, the United States called on Pakistani authorities to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to ensure respect for the country's laws. At least one policeman was killed and dozens injured in clashes on Monday as thousands of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf protesters entered the territorial jurisdiction of the national capital on the call of the party founder Khan. The 72-year-old former premier, who has been in jail since August last year, issued a "final call" on November 13 for nationwide protests on November 24, denouncing what he termed as the stolen mandate, the unjust arrests of people and the passage of the 26th amendment, which he said has strengthened a "dictatorial regime". "In Pakistan and around the world, we support freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. We call on protesters to demonstrate peacefully and refrain from violence," State ...

Imran Khan supporters protest across Pakistan despite ban, arrests

The jailed leader called on supporters to protest until Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government agreed to release jailed party leaders

Pakistan: Sectarian clashes kills 37 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 30 injured

At least 18 people were killed and 30 others injured in sectarian violence in northwest Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the last 24 hours, police said. The clashes between the tribes of Alizai and Bagan in Kurram district bordering Afghanistan took place following Thursday's attack on a convoy of passenger vans in which 47 people were killed by militants. Gunfire is also continuing in Balishkhel, Khar Kali, Kunj Alizai and Maqbal. The tribes are targeting each other with heavy and automatic weapons. So far, 18 people have been killed and 30 injured in the clashes. Independent and media sources reported more than 30 deaths in the clashes. Homes and shops have also been damaged in the fighting. People from various villages have fled to safer locations. Due to the deteriorating situation, all educational institutions in the district remain closed on Saturday, confirmed Muhammad Hayat Hassan, chairman of the Private Education Network. Over 50 passenger vehicles were

Pak ministries at odds over IMF condition on gas supply cut to industries

Pakistan's finance and energy ministries are at loggerheads over meeting a key IMF condition to reduce gas supplies to industrial power plants by January, highlighting shortcomings in the negotiation of the USD 7 billion agreement. During a recent meeting at the prime minister's house, the Petroleum Division, a part of the energy ministry, claimed that the finance ministry accepted the condition despite its reservations at the time of the programme negotiations, The Express Tribune newspaper reported on Saturday. The division further claimed that abrupt disconnection may cause a Rs 427-billion loss to the government and the industries. However, the finance ministry insisted that the Petroleum Division was fully on board at the time of the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and was now changing its position. The development comes amid the energy ministry's assessment that the complete shifting of industries from gas to electricity would require about two ...

Surprise solar boom in Pakistan helps millions, but harms grid & power cos

Driving the demand were households and factories producing everything from cement to apparel, who have suffered frequent blackouts in the past due to the unreliable grid

Mob ransack two police check points in violence-marred NW Pakistan province

A mob ransacked and set fire to two police check points on Friday to protest the killing of nearly 50 people by militants in the restive province in northwest Pakistan. Heavily-armed militants on Thursday ambushed dozens of vehicles carrying passengers in Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing around 50 people, mostly Shias, in one of the worst attacks in the region in recent years. Rescue authorities said around 50 people, including eight women and five children, were killed and 20 others injured in the attack while police initially confirmed 45 deaths. The toll was raised to 47 on Friday. No group claimed responsibility for the attack on passenger vans. On Friday, in response to the Thurday's killings, all markets and educational institutions in Parachinar remained closed even as enraged locals blocked the main road by burning tires. After a lot of protests, the crowd ransacked Bab-e-Kurram, an entry point to Baggan Main Bazar and burnt two police check points a

50 killed, 20 injured as militants attack vehicles in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Twelve security personnel and six terrorists were killed as a suicide bomber rammed an explosive laden vehicle into a joint check post in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the army said on Wednesday. The terrorists attempted to attack a joint check post in general area MaliKhel in Bannu district late on Tuesday night but their attempt to enter the post was effectively thwarted by troops, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Army's media wing, said. The suicide blast led to collapse of portion of perimeter wall and damaged the adjoining infrastructure, resulting in the death of 12 brave sons of soil including 10 soldiers of the security forces and two soldiers of the Frontier Constabulary, the ISPR said. In the ensuing fire exchange, six of them were killed too, it added. The injured persons have been shifted to a local hospital. Sanitisation operation was being conducted and a curfew was imposed in the area. Security forces and law enforcement agencies s

Death toll from gun attack in Pakistan on Shiites soars to at least 28

Gunmen opened fire on passenger vehicles carrying Shiite Muslim civilians in restive northwest Pakistan on Thursday, killing at least 28 people, including six women, and wounding 30 others in one of the deadliest such attacks in recent years in the region, police said. The attack happened in Kurram, a district in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where sectarian clashes between majority Sunni Muslims and minority Shiites have killed dozens of people in recent months. No one has claimed responsibility. The latest violence came a week after authorities reopened a key highway in the region after keeping it closed for weeks following deadly clashes. Local police official Azmat Ali said several vehicles carrying passengers were traveling in a convoy from the city of Parachinar to Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, when gunmen opened fire. He said the dead included six woman, and least 10 passengers were in a critical condition at a hospital. Pakistan's President As