Center sets up panel to probe use of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial resources for Islamabad protest

Supporters and activists of former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) block a road during a protest in Islamabad on October 5, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 06 October 2024
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Center sets up panel to probe use of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial resources for Islamabad protest

  • Ex-PM Khan supporters this week marched toward Islamabad from different parts of the country, mainly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where his party rules
  • Clashes erupted between Khan supporters and police when they were prevented from entering capital, with one cop killed and dozens of others injured

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s federal government has constituted an inquiry committee to probe the use of resources of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provincial government for this week’s protest by former prime minister Imran Khan’s party in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, the Pakistani interior ministry said on Sunday.
Supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party on Friday marched toward Islamabad from different parts of the country, mainly the neighboring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, to protest the government’s proposed constitutional amendments that it claims are aimed at curtailing the independence of the judiciary, the government denies this. They also aimed to mount pressure for the release of their leader who is in jail since August last year.
Clashes erupted as police tried to prevent the protesters from entering the Pakistani capital, with federal officials accusing KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur of firing tear gas at police while leading caravans of protesters from the neighboring province ruled by the PTI. They said Gandapur was accompanied by serving police officers as well as heavy machinery to remove road blockades.
“An inquiry committee is hereby constituted to probe the use of government resources and manpower by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in the rally, for sit-in at Islamabad, by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on 4th and 5th October 2024,” the Pakistani interior ministry said in a notification.




A supporter of jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), throws back a tear gas shell during an anti-government rally in Islamabad, Pakistan, October 5, 2024. (REUTERS)

The three-member committee comprises Additional Interior Secretary Riffat Mukhtar, Additional Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Munir Masood Marath, and a representative of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), according to the notification.
Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday evening and praised him, the Islamabad administration, and police for maintaining law and order in the capital, despite two days of clashes that killed at least one policeman and injured dozens of others, and prompted authorities to seal almost all roads and suspend mobile phone services.
Federal authorities said on Sunday they had rounded up nearly 900 protesters, while there had been no clue of the whereabouts of CM Gandapur, who led thousands to Islamabad, since arriving in the capital on Saturday. The PTI said Gandapur had been “kidnapped,” and that police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at its supporters in “excessive” use of force.
Khan’s party says it is facing an over-year-long crackdown since protesters allegedly linked to the PTI attacked and damaged government and military installations on May 9, 2023, after the former premier’s brief arrest the same day in a land graft case.
Hundreds of PTI followers and leaders were arrested following the riots and many remain behind bars as they await trial. The military, which says Khan and his party were behind the attacks, has also initiated army court trials of at least 103 people accused of involvement in the violence.
Khan, who has been in jail since last August, was ousted from the PM’s office in 2022 in a parliamentary vote of no confidence after what is widely believed to be a falling out with Pakistan’s powerful military, which denies being involved in politics.


Pakistan dominate IBSF World Snooker Championship in Bahrain with twin titles

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Pakistan dominate IBSF World Snooker Championship in Bahrain with twin titles

  • Veteran Mohmmad Asif beats India’s Brijesh Damani 4-3 in a nail-biting Masters encounter
  • Hasnain produces clinical display of cue mastery, sweeping past Riley Powell of Wales 4-0

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday stamped their authority on the global snooker stage as Mohammad Asif and Muhammad Hasnain clinched both the Masters and Under-17 titles after a thrilling finale at the IBSF World Snooker Championship 2025 in Bahrain.

Asif faced a stern test in the World Masters final, going toe-to-toe with India’s Brijesh Damani in a nail-biting encounter. After six fiercely contested frames, the Pakistani star cueist held his nerve in the decider to edge Damani 4-3, clinching yet another major title.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz congratulated Asif on his brilliant win in the Masters category.

“Mohammad Asif has brought pride to Pakistan on the global stage by defeating his Indian opponent through sheer hard work, skill, and determination,” she was quoted as saying by her Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) party.

Muhammad Asif of Pakistan receives the Masters title award at the IBSF World Snooker Championship in Manama, Bahrain, on July 18, 2025. (Handout/IBSF)

Asif advanced to the final with an impressive 4-2 win over India’s Manan Chandra in the semifinal on Thursday at the Crowne Plaza, Bahrain.

Meanwhile, Hasnain produced a clinical display of cue mastery, sweeping past Riley Powell of Wales 4-0 to seize the World Under-17 Snooker crown.

“The young prodigy remained unshaken throughout, showcasing composure beyond his years to secure the gold,” the IBSF said on its website.

Pakistan’s Muhammad Hasnain receives the Under-17 title award at the IBSF World Snooker Championship in Manama, Bahrain, on July 18, 2025. (Handout/IBSF)

 


Pakistan plans to build $10.5 million aquaculture park to promote seafood exports

Updated 48 min 24 sec ago
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Pakistan plans to build $10.5 million aquaculture park to promote seafood exports

  • The development comes amid government efforts for sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth
  • Pakistan’s fish and fish preparation exports reached $465.4 million in the last fiscal year that ended in June

KARACHI: Pakistan is planning to build Rs3 billion ($10.5 million) aquaculture park in the southern port city of Karachi, Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced on Saturday, amid efforts to strengthen the country’s blue economy.

According to the World Bank, the blue economy is defined as sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improving livelihoods and creating jobs, while preserving the ocean ecosystem health.

Pakistan has been pushing to modernize its port infrastructure and expand its role in regional trade by improving cargo handling, digitalizing port operations and encouraging public-private partnerships.

Speaking at a meeting to review progress on blue economy, Chaudhry said this new aquaculture park will be built on 120 acres and directed the Qur'angi Fish Harbor Authority to submit its report within 10 days.

“Pakistani coastal waters are very suitable for aquaculture,” he said in a statement shared by the maritime affairs ministry. “The project will be built under a public-private partnership and the park will boost seafood exports.

Pakistan’s fish and fish preparation exports reached $465.4 million in the outgoing fiscal year that ended in June, according to official data. The exports were up 13.4 percent from $410.3 million in the previous year.

Authorities are currently trying to enhance the potential of Pakistan’s fisheries, logistics and marine services while reducing environmental harm.

“Investment in aquaculture and port infrastructure is essential for national development,” Chaudhry told representatives of Gwadar Port, Qur'angi Fish Harbor, Marine Fisheries and Balochistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry at the meeting.

“The same aquaculture model will be implemented in Balochistan as well.”

In May, the Pakistani government announced the creation of a new Maritime Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), saying it would serve as a specialized platform for uniting stakeholders from across the maritime spectrum to pursue greener policies and long-term economic resilience.

“This chamber will not only support investment and innovation in the maritime sector but also prioritize sustainability at ports, promote green technologies and foster carbon reduction strategies,” Chaudhry said at the time.


PM Sharif reassures moral, political support to Kashmiris on Accession to Pakistan Day

Updated 19 July 2025
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PM Sharif reassures moral, political support to Kashmiris on Accession to Pakistan Day

  • Muslim-majority Himalayan region has been a flashpoint between arch-rivals Pakistan and India since independence in 1947
  • Both countries engaged in a four-day military conflict in May over an attack in the region that India blamed on Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday reassured Pakistan’s continued diplomatic, moral and political support to Kashmiris for the achievement of their right to self-determination, Sharif’s office said, as the Kashmiri people marked ‘Accession to Pakistan Day.’

The Muslim-majority Himalayan region of Kashmir has been divided between Pakistan and India since their independence from British rule in 1947. Both countries rule parts of the Himalayan territory but claim it in full and have fought multiple wars over the disputed region.

The Accession to Pakistan Day is annually observed to commemorate unanimous adoption of a resolution on July 19, 1947 by All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference in Srinagar, which called for Kashmir’s accession in view of aspirations of the Kashmiri people and their religious, geographical, cultural and economic proximity to Pakistan.

“On that day, the brave people of Kashmir passed a resolution for the accession of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan,” Sharif said a statement issued from his office.

“A peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions is the only guarantee of the rights of the Kashmiris and peace in the region. The government and people of Pakistan will continue to extend diplomatic, moral and political support to the Kashmiris.”

Most Kashmiris in the world observe the day to renew their pledge to complete the merger. In Azad Kashmir, wide-scale programs are organized to highlight the Kashmiri struggle and to demand their right to self-determination under UN resolutions.

This year, the Accession to Pakistan Day is being observed at a time of heightened tensions between Pakistan and India over an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in April.

New Delhi blamed the assault, which killed 26 people, on Pakistan, an allegation denied by Islamabad. The attacked sparked four days of hostilities between the neighbors, with both sides attacking each other with jets, drones, missiles and artillery before agreeing to a United States-brokered ceasefire on May 10.

The conflict, the deadly between the neighbors in more than two decades, killed dozens of people on both sides.


Taste of exile: Beloved Afghan street food disappears from Pakistani cities amid deportation drive

Updated 19 July 2025
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Taste of exile: Beloved Afghan street food disappears from Pakistani cities amid deportation drive

  • Vendors, recipes and memories vanish as nearly a million Afghans forced to leave Pakistan
  • In Islamabad and Karachi, Pakistani customers say flavor are fading and so is a shared culture

ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: In a bustling corner of Islamabad’s F-10 Markaz, the scent of sizzling oil and green chili chutney once signaled the presence of Afghan street food.

Today, the aroma is gone and so are the stalls that created it — the hum of grills and laughter and life.

“There used to be a few [Afghan fries stalls] around my neighborhood and then one morning, they just upped and left,” said Hamza Nofil, 28, who used to daily have the crinkle-cut, ridged, and golden chips, always served with the signature green chutney.

“So, you know, it breaks my heart.”

This combination of photos shows two Afghan-run food stalls in Islamabad. (AN Photo)

The heartbreak is shared by many in Pakistan’s urban centers where those fries, and the people who served them, were part of a larger story — of exile, adaptation and community — that is now vanishing as a result of a sweeping deportation drive targeting Afghan nationals.

Since November 2023, Pakistan has expelled nearly one million Afghans as part of a crackdown on undocumented foreigners. The government has also not renewed Proof of Registration (PoR) cards for 1.4 million Afghan refugees, allowing their legal stay to lapse in June 2024.

While the policy has drawn criticism from rights groups and international powers, it is the quieter losses, of flavor, memory, and a sense of belonging, that now echo through city markets and street corners.

Among the casualties are the street food stalls, modest, smoky kitchens on wheels, where generations of Afghan refugees introduced Pakistanis to flavors from across the border: the fries dunked in secret chutney, paratha-wrapped burgers and mounds of Kabuli Pulao rice heaped with raisins, nuts and slow-cooked beef.

Shahid Ali, 22, a Pakistani vendor in F-10, said he remembered when there were six or seven Afghan fries stalls in the area, as well as those selling Afghan burgers wraps packed with shredded chicken or kebab, slathered with sauces and served in paratha.

“You won’t see any Afghans around here because the government sent them back to Afghanistan,” Ali said.

As Afghan families depart, Pakistani vendors have tried to mimic the recipes but something vital has been lost.

“We are missing them [Afghan food stalls],” said Iqra, 29, a banker who only gave her first name. “I will definitely miss them, especially their green chutney. I loved that.”

“A WORLD IS GOING”

In Karachi’s Al-Asif Square, nicknamed “Small Kabul” for its long-settled Afghan community, the losses are not just culinary. They are existential.

“The craftsmen are going, the shopkeepers are leaving,” said Sayed Abdul Wali, a 27-year-old shopkeeper. “A world is going to Afghanistan.”

This combination of photos shows Afghan dresses in Karachi. (AN Photo)

Abdul Kabir, a Pakistani who sells traditional Afghan naan flatbreads, said demand had plummeted.

“Where once three sacks of flour would be used, now we only use one,” he said. “Even the morning batch is still lying here.”

Anthropologist Saeed Husain warned of cultural erasure, saying more than flavor was being lost. He described Afghan food culture as a form of lived knowledge, passed down from generation to generation, evolving with each retelling.

“All these traditions will be lost,” Husain said. “And then we’ll just have copies, really cheap copies… all of that will be lost too now.”

Afghans began arriving in Pakistan in large numbers after the Soviet invasion of 1979, with successive waves fleeing war, drought, and political instability. In urban Pakistan, cities like Karachi and Islamabad, they became traders, laborers, mechanics, and cooks, helping build the very urban fabric from which they are now being erased.

This combination of photos shows populare Afghan Boti (left) and Kabuli Pulao (right) in Karachi. (AN Photo)

“Pakistan is a country founded in 1947 and made by refugees,” said Dr. Sanaa Alimia, author of Refugee Cities: How Afghans Changed Urban Pakistan.

The professor said Afghans were deeply woven into the economic and cultural fabric of urban centers and played a foundational role in shaping the cities of Pakistan, building homes, laying roads, running businesses — and serving food.

“There are many examples, from agricultural production and farming techniques, to mechanics, to doctors… artists, tandoor wallas, and so much more,” Dr. Alimai said.

But she cautioned against reducing the worth of Afghans to their economic value.

“Human and political rights are about protecting and valuing people irrespective of if they contribute to the economy or not.”

Back in Karachi, Mohsin, a local customer, feared not just the loss of food but of taste, tradition, and togetherness.

“If our Afghan brothers leave,” he said, “then perhaps the taste and flavor will leave too.”


Pakistan again extends airspace ban on Indian aircraft till August 24

Updated 19 July 2025
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Pakistan again extends airspace ban on Indian aircraft till August 24

  • The restriction was first imposed in Apr. as part of tit-for-tat measures by India and Pakistan after an attack in disputed Kashmir
  • The attack, which India blamed on Pakistan without offering evidence, led to a four-day military conflict between the two countries in May

KARACHI: Pakistan has extended for the third time its airspace ban on Indian aircraft until August 24, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said late Friday, amid continued tensions between the two countries.

The restriction was first imposed on Apr. 24 as part of a series of tit-for-tat measures announced by both India and Pakistan, days after an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.

India blamed Pakistan for the assault that killed 26 tourists, Islamabad denied the allegation and called for a credible international probe into the incident. Both countries later engaged in a four-day military conflict in May.

“All aircraft operated by Indian airlines will not be able to use Pakistani airspace,” the PAA said in a statement. “The ban will remain in effect until 4:59am on August 24, Pakistan time.”

The authority said Indian-owned or -leased military and civil aircraft will also not be allowed into Pakistani airspace.

Pakistan previously extended the one-month restriction in May and June.

The restriction has forced Indian airlines to reroute their flights, resulting in increased fuel consumption, longer travel times and higher operational costs.

Air India, which operates numerous flights to Europe and North America, estimated in May that the airspace ban could lead to approximately $600 million in additional expenses over the course of a year and requested compensation from the Indian government.