Embassy says Pakistanis detained in Turkey for protesting ex-PM Khan’s ouster to be released soon

Turkish special force police officers patrol in Istanbul's iconic Taksim square on May 28, 2021. (AFP/File)
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Updated 12 April 2022
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Embassy says Pakistanis detained in Turkey for protesting ex-PM Khan’s ouster to be released soon

  • On Sunday, 27 Pakistani students were arrested for protesting Imran Khan’s ouster at Istanbul’s Taksim Square
  • Under the Turkish law, prior permission is required from local authorities to hold a march or demonstration

ISLAMABAD: More than two dozen Pakistani nationals, who were arrested on Sunday for protesting the ouster of Imran Khan at Istanbul’s Taksim Square, would be released soon, the Pakistani mission in Turkey said on Tuesday. 
Khan was ousted early Sunday, when he lost a no-confidence vote after being deserted by his party’s lawmakers and coalition partners. In a show of strength and a precursor to the political uncertainty ahead, Khan rallied hundreds of thousands of supporters in protests Sunday night, describing the new leadership as an “imposed government” that colluded with the United States to oust him. 
His backers marched in cities across Pakistan as well as abroad, waving party flags, shouting slogans, and promising his return to power. A group of Pakistani students, who staged a similar protest at the Taksim Square, was arrested by the Turkish police Sunday evening. 
“On the evening of April 10, 27 Pakistani nationals (mostly students) were arrested at Taksim Square for holding a demonstration without obtaining the required prior permission from Turkish authorities,” Mahroo Arshad, press attaché at the Pakistani embassy in Ankara, told Arab News. 
“The Turkish authorities have informed that the arrested Pakistani nationals are likely to be released by the evening of Tuesday, provided they have valid legal residence permits or visas and have no other criminal record.” 




The image posted on August 2021 shows the exterior view of Pakistani embassy in Ankara. (Photo courtesy: Online)

Turkey has a record of cracking down on protests that rights organizations, including the Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have repeatedly condemned. 
Under the Turkish law on meetings and demonstrations (Law No. 2911), a locality’s highest civil authority will give a permission for a march or demonstration, and the location of a meeting or demonstration or the route of a march can be changed, if necessary, to ensure public order and peace. 
Arshad said Pakistan’s embassy and the consulate general in Istanbul had immediately established contact after the arrests and had since been in touch with the Turkish side for consular access and facilitating an early release of these Pakistanis. 


Pakistani security forces kill seven militants in separate encounters in volatile northwest

Updated 5 sec ago
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Pakistani security forces kill seven militants in separate encounters in volatile northwest

  • The deceased militants belonged to Pakistani Taliban who have stepped up attacks against security forces in recent months
  • Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of sheltering militant groups behind attacks in its western regions, a charge denied by Kabul

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces have killed seven militants in two separate engagements in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the Pakistani military said on Sunday, amid a surge in militant violence in the region that borders Afghanistan.

The first operation was conducted in Daraban area of KP’s Dera Ismail Khan district in which four militants were killed, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.

Three other militants were killed in a second encounter in Maddi area of the same district.

“Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the khwarij [Pakistani Taliban militants], who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area,” the ISPR said in a statement.

“Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other kharji found in the area.”

The South Asian country brands the Pakistani Taliban, or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), fighters as “khwarij,” a historical reference to an extremist sect in early Islam known for rebelling against authority, declaring other Muslims as apostates, and justifying their killing.

Pakistan has seen a surge in militancy in KP since a fragile truce between the Pakistani Taliban and the state broke down in November 2022. The militants have stepped up attacks against police and security forces in recent months, with the military reporting deaths of 383 soldiers and 925 militants in various clashes in the country in 2024.

The latest operations came more than a week after militants killed an army officer and three soldiers in a shootout in KP’s North Waziristan district, according to the military.

Islamabad has frequently blamed the surge in militancy on Afghanistan, accusing it of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks. Afghan officials deny involvement and insist that Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter of Islamabad.


Pakistan closes key border crossing with Afghanistan over ‘construction of trenches’ by Taliban authorities

Updated 23 February 2025
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Pakistan closes key border crossing with Afghanistan over ‘construction of trenches’ by Taliban authorities

  • The development comes at a time of strained ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan over a surge in militants attacks in Pakistan’s western provinces
  • The closure of Torkham border crossing in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has suspended movement of pedestrians as well as trucks carrying trade goods

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has closed a key crossing on its northwestern border with Afghanistan over the “construction of trenches” near the frontier, a Pakistani police official said on Sunday, which has led to the suspension of cross-border movement.

The Torkham border crossing was closed late on Friday night, when Afghan Taliban authorities initiated “construction of trenches and other development work” along the border, according to Naheed Khan, a senior police official in Pakistan’s Khyber district that borders Afghanistan.

The closure of border crossing by Pakistani authorities has resulted in suspension of movement of pedestrians and trade between the two neighboring countries, but there were no reports of skirmishes between the two sides.

“It [Torkham crossing] is closed both for pedestrians and heavy vehicles since 12 at night on Feb. 21. No firing is reported from either side,” Khan told Arab News.

“Some families of Bacha Mina, a dusty village near the border on Pakistani side, have left the area for safer places to dodge any eventuality. Also some loaded trucks have returned to Jamrud Bazaar.”

There was no immediate comment from the Afghan side on the closure of the key border crossing.

The development comes at a time of strained ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan over a surge in militants attacks in Pakistan’s western provinces that border Afghanistan.

Islamabad has frequently accused Afghanistan of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks. Afghan officials deny involvement and insist that Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter of Islamabad.

In the past, border clashes between Pakistani and Afghan forces have led to the closure of key crossings like Torkham and Chaman, severely disrupting trade and halting the movement of people between the two countries.

In August, the Torkham border was shut down for three days after the Afghan Taliban announced they were investigating reports of Pakistani fighter jets allegedly violating Afghan airspace in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces.

Tensions escalated again between the two countries in December, following reports of Pakistani airstrikes targeting alleged militant camps in Afghanistan. Afghan officials reported the strikes resulted in civilian casualties.


Punjab screens high-voltage India-Pakistan Champions Trophy match at 44 prisons across province

Updated 44 min 52 sec ago
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Punjab screens high-voltage India-Pakistan Champions Trophy match at 44 prisons across province

  • The South Asian heavyweights are playing at Dubai International Cricket Stadium as India refused to travel to Pakistan
  • The screening at Punjab prisons is part of Prison Reforms Policy to make inmates better citizens, home department says

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Punjab province has arranged for screening of the much-anticipated India-Pakistan Champions Trophy match at 44 prisons across the province, the Punjab home department said on Sunday.

Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and elected to bat in the blockbuster clash against India in Dubai on Sunday as his side looked to stay alive in the tournament.

Defending champions Pakistan lost the tournament opener to New Zealand and another defeat will virtually end their chances of making it to the semifinals.

Punjab Home Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal had directed the provincial prison authorities to make special arrangements for the screening of the match for inmates.

“Positive activities are being promoted to make prisoners better citizens under the Punjab chief minister’s Prison Reforms Policy,” the home department said in a statement.

“Special arrangements were also made in juvenile prisons for live broadcast of cricket matches. Children dressed in Pakistani cricket team uniforms enjoyed the match.”

The arch-rivals are playing at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium after India refused to travel to Pakistan to play their matches. The last time these two sides met in the Champions Trophy was back in 2017, when Pakistan beat India in the final by 180 runs in London.

Jail superintendents and senior officials were also watching the match along with prisoners in jails across Punjab.

“Under the Prison Reforms Policy, small and big industrial units and libraries have also been established in jails across Punjab to promote education and training,” the home department added.


Islamabad says new energy policy to attract $5 billion in investment

Updated 23 February 2025
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Islamabad says new energy policy to attract $5 billion in investment

  • New policy allows exploration companies to sell 35 percent of future gas discoveries to private entities 
  • Pakistan says main objective of new policy is to encourage public-private partnership in energy sector

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has developed a new energy policy that will help the country attract $5 billion in investment through public-private partnerships, state-run media reported on Sunday, with the move expected to help create thousands of jobs and reduce reliance on imported fuel. 

Pakistan has aggressively pursued reforms in its energy sector, which has long struggled with financial strain due to circular debt, power theft and transmission losses. These problems have led to blackouts and high electricity costs in the South Asian country. 

Pakistan’s increased reliance on imported fuel has also drained its foreign exchange reserves, bringing the country to the brink of a sovereign default in 2023 before a last-gasp $3 billion bailout by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) came to the country’s rescue. 

“A new policy has been introduced for the development and prosperity of energy sector with the support of SIFC,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan said in a report, referring to the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) body. 

“The policy will enable the energy sector to attract up to 5 billion dollars in investment and it will pave the way for 35 percent private investment in this sector.”

The report said that the main objective of the policy is to encourage public-private partnerships in the energy sector. 

A separate video released by the SIFC said the policy allows production and exploration companies to sell 35 percent of future gas discoveries to private entities through a comparative bidding process. 

The SIFC said the policy will help create thousands of jobs in Pakistan, boost gas production, help the country rely less on expensive imported fuels and accelerate its Gross Domestic Product growth. 

Pakistan constituted the SIFC, a hybrid civil-military body in June 2023 to attract international investment in agriculture, energy, livestock, tourism, mining and minerals, and other priority sectors. 

The SIFC has targeted mainly Gulf countries and has signed agreements worth billions of dollars since it was formed in 2023. 


Indian Hindu fans pray for victory over Pakistan in Champions Trophy clash

Updated 23 February 2025
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Indian Hindu fans pray for victory over Pakistan in Champions Trophy clash

  • Fans offer ‘yajna’ and ‘aarti’ Hindu prayers in Indian cities of Kolkata and Prayagraj on Saturday 
  • India and Pakistan enjoy one of fiercest rivalries in sports due to bitter history, political tensions 

Islamabad: Indian Hindu fans were seen offering special prayers as their national cricket team locks horns with arch-rivals Pakistan in a blockbuster Champions Trophy 2025 clash in Dubai today, Sunday. 

India and Pakistan enjoy one of the fiercest rivalries in sports. The nuclear-armed neighbors have fought three wars since 1947 ever since they gained independence from the British, fueling passion and emotion in millions on both sides of the border every time the two teams meet on the cricket field. 

India’s Hindu fans were seen offering special prayers in the eastern Kolkata and northern Prayagraj cities on Saturday for their cricket team’s success against Pakistan. 

“India and Pakistan are going to play against each other, and we have prayed to mother Triveni (confluence of three rivers: Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati) and mother Ganga (river Ganga) that tomorrow’s match turns out to be in favor of India,” Hindu devotee Pradeep Pandey told Reuters in Prayagraj on Saturday.

In Prayagraj, on the sidelines of Maha Kumbh Mela (The Great Pitcher Festival), fans and devotees performed ‘Aarti’ (flame ritually waved to deities) at the shore of the Ganges, praying for the Indian cricket team’s win. 

In Kolkata, fans and devotees were seen performing ‘yajna’ (offering to the God in front of a sacred fire) in the name of Goddess Kali.

India, who refused to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy citing government advice, will be playing all their matches in Dubai. They kicked off their Group A campaign with a comfortable six-wicket victory against Bangladesh earlier this week. Pakistan’s title defense, meanwhile, looks in disarray after their comprehensive defeat to New Zealand.

India have won seven of the eight completed ODIs in the last decade against their rivals they play only in multi-team events because of a strained political relationship between the two countries.

Pakistan are the defending champions of the Champions Trophy tournament. The green shirts, under the leadership of former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, beat India in 2017 in the final by 180 runs to win the tournament.