LAHORE: Pakistani security forces on Thursday arrested one of the alleged perpetrators of a car bombing the day before that killed three people and wounded 25 near the residence of a convicted militant leader linked to the Mumbai terrorist attacks, officials said.
The man behind Wednesday's attack in the eastern city of Lahore was arrested at the airport as he was trying to leave the country, said Suhail Ahmad, a security official familiar with the investigation. He identified the man as Pakistani national David Peter.
Ahmad refused to share further details, saying the government would issue a statement about a breakthrough in the case achieved by the Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department with the help of the country's intelligence agencies.
Hours earlier, Pakistan's Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said in a video message on Twitter that the Punjab police were close to arresting those responsible for the Lahore car bombing.
The powerful explosion in the Johar Town neighborhood was near the residence of anti-India militant leader Hafiz Saeed, designated a terrorist by the US Justice Department and has a $10 million bounty on his head.
Saeed is the founder of the outlawed Lashkar-e-Taiba group, which was blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people. He was unharmed in Wednesday's bombing, but the windows of his home were shattered.
Last year, Pakistan sentenced Saeed to 15 years in prison in a terror-financing case, but he was never charged in connection with the Mumbai attacks. He has been serving his term at home under a government order.
Saeed's Lashkar-e-Taiba was active for years mainly in Kashmir, which is split between Pakistan and India but claimed by both in its entirety.
Pakistan and India have a history of bitter relations and they have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir since gaining independence in 1947.
Pakistan arrests key suspect in Lahore bombing that killed 3
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Pakistan arrests key suspect in Lahore bombing that killed 3
- Security officials say the man behind Wednesday's attack was arrested at the airport as he was trying to leave the country
- Pakistan's Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said earlier in the day the police were close to arresting those responsible for the car bombing
Pakistani businessmen in Saudi Arabia eye investment in key sectors back home
- These entrepreneurs are visiting Islamabad to attend the three-day Overseas Pakistanis Convention
- Pakistan Investors Forum plans commercial hub in Saudi Arabia to promote top 100 Pakistani brands
ISLAMABAD: Overseas Pakistani businessmen in Saudi Arabia expressed interest in investing in the tourism, agriculture, food processing and trading sectors of their country of origin on Sunday, as they arrived in Islamabad to attend the inaugural Overseas Pakistanis Convention.
Nearly 20 Pakistan-origin businessmen from the Kingdom are participating in the program that kicked off today and will conclude on April 15.
Organized by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, the convention aims to recognize the contributions of expatriates to the national economy and address their concerns.
The government has accorded state guest status to all the attendees, with special arrangements made to welcome them at airports.
“We have keen interest in investing in Pakistan’s tourism infrastructure, including hotel development and facility upgrades, as well as in value-added agriculture, food processing and general trading sectors such as import-export,” Faisal Tahir Khan, a Saudi-born Pakistani businessman whose family has lived in the Kingdom for the past seven decades, told Arab News.
“At the moment our main platform, the Pakistan Investment Forum [PIF] in Saudi Arabia, is also working to build a Pakistan commercial hub in the Kingdom where we will be bringing the top 100 brands of Pakistan there,” he added.
Remittances sent by overseas Pakistanis are crucial for the country as the nation navigates a tricky path to recovery from a prolonged economic crisis that drained its revenues in recent years.
Pakistan expects to receive more than $35 billion in remittances until the end of this fiscal year in June, with its nationals in Saudi Arabia being top contributors to the country’s economy.
Khan maintained the Kingdom offered a robust investment ecosystem, driven by its Vision 2030 initiative to reduce its oil reliance and transform economy, saying the authorities in Riyadh are promoting equal opportunities for all investors.
Ali Khurshid Malik, another businessman from the Pakistani diaspora in Saudi Arabia, emphasized local companies should not miss the opportunities emerging in the construction sector in the Kingdom with the launch of projects like NEOM City.
NEOM City is a flagship project under Vision 2030, aimed at building a futuristic, sustainable urban hub driven by innovation and technology.
“The NEOM project offers a major opportunity for Pakistani investors in both construction, where Pakistan excels in materials and labor, and in smart city technologies, where its IT sector can play a key role,” he told Arab News.
Malik, who also serves as the finance secretary with PIF, said overseas Pakistanis with businesses in Saudi Arabia could help connect relevant companies in Pakistan, such as those providing construction materials like sanitary supplies, ceramics and marble with Saudi firms.
“There is also a demand for skilled workers, particularly in areas like smart electronics for smart homes,” he noted.
He also pointed out Pakistan needed to improve its certification systems to provide the Kingdom with certified skilled workers, including specialists in electronic modules, electronic systems, as well as electronic and software engineers.
Raja Shahid Raza, a Riyadh-based Pakistani entrepreneur, said the convention would provide a valuable opportunity for overseas Pakistani investors, businessmen and community members to engage directly with government institutions, while also boosting their pride as their contributions are being recognized by the country.
“As the top management of all key institutions that overseas Pakistanis interact with will be present, it will be a great opportunity to voice our concerns and receive direct responses from them,” he said, adding it would also connect different local businesses with the overseas community.
In a statement, Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain said the convention aimed to address expatriates’ issues and recognize their contributions.
He informed the country’s top leadership, including the prime minister and the army chief, will also address the visiting business representatives.
Pakistan to launch direct flights to Azerbaijan on April 20 as bilateral ties grow
- The announcement comes after PIA reported operational and net profits for the first time in 21 years
- Pakistan and Azerbaijan have vowed to deepen strategic cooperation in trade, energy and defense
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national flag carrier on Sunday announced it will begin direct flights to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, from April 20, as the two countries move to deepen strategic cooperation across trade, energy, defense and regional connectivity.
Pakistan and Azerbaijan have been stepping up bilateral collaboration, with Islamabad offering Baku and other Central Asian states access to its Gwadar and Karachi ports.
In return, Azerbaijan committed to a $2 billion investment in Pakistan’s mining, energy and infrastructure sectors during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Baku in February.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced the new service at a special ceremony in Karachi held in honor of travel agents and tour operators, who were briefed on the new route.
“PIA will operate two weekly flights from Lahore,” the airline said in a statement after the gathering, adding that “flights to Baku will depart on Sundays and Wednesdays.”
PIA said the direct connection to Azerbaijan would help boost two-way tourism and commercial ties, adding it was committed to ensuring the viability of the Baku route and strengthening its presence in the Central Asian market.
The Pakistani national airline, which has long struggled financially, surprised observers earlier this month by posting an operational profit of $33.48 million and a net profit of $94.32 million in the last fiscal year.
This was the first time in 21 years the airline has made these profits.
The launch of the Baku route is expected to support the carrier’s business further as the government pushes ahead with plans to privatize it under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program aimed at reforming state-owned enterprises and stabilizing the economy.
Pakistan’s interior minister, US congressional delegation discuss counterterror cooperation, bilateral investment
- Mohsin Naqvi says “terrorism” is a global challenge, urges international community to cooperate with Pakistan
- As Pakistan grapples with militancy, Islamabad and Washington will hold a counterterrorism dialogue in June
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held talks on counterterrorism cooperation and bilateral investment with a United States (US) congressional delegation in Islamabad on Sunday, as both countries attempt to forge closer ties to battle surging regional militancy.
Military cooperation between Pakistan and the US spans over six decades, but it underwent a tactical renaissance since the militant attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
During the US ‘War on Terror’ against the Taliban in Afghanistan, US-Pakistan relations were largely prompted by Washington’s short-term need for Islamabad’s cooperation to serve its security and strategic interests in Kabul.
A US congressional delegation in Pakistan comprising congressmen Jack Bergman, Tom Suozzi and Jonathan Jackson called on the Pakistani interior minister in Islamabad. Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudry, Acting US Ambassador Natalie Baker and Federal Interior Secretary Khurram Agha were also present.
“Discussions on advancing cooperation in the fields of economy, trade and investment were held,” the interior ministry said. “Discussions were also held on security, counterterrorism and border security areas.”
Naqvi described Pakistan as a “wall” between “terrorism” and the world, the ministry said.
“Terrorism is a global challenge and the international community urgently needs to cooperate fully with Pakistan,” he was quoted as saying by the ministry.
The Pakistani minister stressed the importance of sharing intelligence and technology counterterrorism.
Pakistan and the US will hold a counter-terrorism dialogue in June this year. Cooperation between Islamabad and Washington in the field of counterterrorism is particularly important given the increase in militant attacks in Pakistan’s western provinces bordering Afghanistan.
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of sheltering militants that launch attacks on its soil, allegations that have been repeatedly denied by the Taliban government in Kabul.
Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami party to hold ‘Gaza Solidarity March’ in Karachi today
- JI to hold march at Karachi’s busy Shahrah-e-Faisal road at 4:00 p.m. today, says party
- At least 1,560 Palestinians have been killed since Israel resumed bombarding Gaza in March
ISLAMABAD: Thousands of supporters of prominent Pakistani religiopolitical party Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) are expected to take part in a “Gaza Solidarity March” in the southern port city of Karachi against Israel’s military offensives in the Palestinian territory.
The protest will take place days after the JI held demonstrations in Lahore and other major cities on Friday to protest Israel’s bombardment of Gaza and urge Muslim nations to stop the bloodshed.
Gaza’s Health Ministry says at least 1,560 people have been killed since the fragile truce between Hamas and Israel broke down on Mar. 18. According to Palestinian Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal, at least 500 children are among the dead since Israel resumed the offensive last month.
“A Solidarity with Gaza March will be held on Sunday, Apr. 13 at 4:00 p.m. on Shahrah-e-Faisal in Karachi,” the JI said in a post on social media platform X on Saturday.
The JI has already announced it will lead a protest march to the US Embassy in Islamabad on Apr. 20.
Pakistan, which does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, has frequently criticized the Jewish state for its military operations in Gaza. Islamabad has also called for the resumption of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory and the need for a revival of negotiations leading to a two-state solution.
Islamabad consistently calls for an independent Palestinian state along the pre-1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel’s military offensives in Gaza have killed over 50,000 people and wounded over 116,000, as per the Gaza Health Ministry.
Veteran Pakistani comedian Javed ‘Kodu’ passes away after prolonged illness
- Muhammad Javed starred in over 150 Punjabi, Urdu films and several stage productions since 1981
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says void left by late comedian’s passing is likely to never be filled
ISLAMABAD: Veteran Pakistani stage and television comedian Muhammad Javed, popularly known as “Javed Kodu,” passed away in the eastern city of Lahore on Sunday after suffering from prolonged illness, state-run media reported.
Javed, who as per media reports was 50 years old, was widely recognized for his comedic talent and distinctive short stature.
He passed away during the wee hours of Sunday after a long battle with illness. The comedian’s funeral prayers will be held at the marquee behind his residence in Lahore’s Singhpura area, state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said.
“The veteran performer, who dedicated more than four decades to the entertainment industry, leaves behind a legacy of laughter, resilience, and heartfelt performances,” APP reported.
Born with dwarfism, Javed faced numerous societal and professional challenges throughout his life, APP said.
It added that his stage name “Kodu” was affectionately given to him by legendary comedian Akhtar Hussain Albela.
Javed began acting in 1981 with the play “Sode Baaz” and went on to star in over 150 Punjabi and Urdu films, along with several stage productions.
His TV drama “Ashiyana” was a hit with fans and is arguably the most popular television project Javed was associated with.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief at Javed’s passing, praising his talent as a comedian.
“Javed Kodu, who was famous for his short stature and towering talent, leaves behind a void in the media industry that is likely never to be filled,” Sharif was quoted as saying by his office.
The late comedian is survived by his wife and two sons. One of his sons, Shera, is a popular performer on the comedy show “Mazaaq Raat.
