Provincial minister accused of triple murder after mutilated bodies found in Pakistan’s southwest

A group of protesters sit right next to the coffins of a woman and her two sons in Quetta, Pakistan, on February 22, 2023, accusing a provincial minister of triple murder and demanding his arrest. (@paank_bnm/Twitter)
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Updated 22 February 2023
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Provincial minister accused of triple murder after mutilated bodies found in Pakistan’s southwest

  • Balochistan government forms a joint investigation team after bodies of a woman, her two sons were found in a remote district
  • People take the bodies to Quetta to stage a sit-in while accusing communications minister of holding the family in a private jail

QUETTA: Dozens of people in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province started a sit-in on Tuesday after the mutilated bodies of a woman and her two sons were found in a well who they said had been killed by a provincial minister while calling for his arrest.

The protesters maintained the family had been illegally detained in a private jail for the last four years by communications minister Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran, adding the prison was inside his residence in Barkhan and that he had also ordered the killing of the woman and her two sons.

The protesters brought all three bodies to Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, to stage the sit-in in front of the chief minister’s residence.

“We demand the immediate arrest of Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran for the triple murder and want the government to recover five other children of the same family who are still locked inside the jail in Barkhan,” Jahangir Marri, secretary general Marri Ittehad Pakistan, which organized the demonstration, told the media at the demonstration.

He said the husband of the slain woman, Khan Muhammad Marri, was hiding since he feared for his own life after Khetran threatened him with dire consequences a few years ago.

“The chief justice of Pakistan should intervene in the matter to save the lives of five other innocent children,” he continued.

Last week, the slain woman, Giran Naz, said in a video statement that Khetran had detained her along with her sons in a private jail at his residence. She requested the Pakistani authorities to take action and secure the release of her family while holding the Holy Qur’an in her hands.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province in terms of landmass, is inhabited by hundreds of tribes which are led by chieftains who are frequently accused of depriving their people of basic facilities.

The Balochistan administration decided to form a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the triple murder case and arrest the culprits involved in the crime.
“Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo has ordered the inspector general Police to form a JIT,” the provincial government’s spokesperson Farah Azeem Shah told Arab News. “The government will soon get to the bottom of this case.”

The Balochistan police raided Khetran’s residence on Tuesday, though it did not make any arrests after an hours-long search operation.

Meanwhile, the provincial minister described the incident as a “conspiracy” to tarnish his reputation while expressing his willingness to cooperate with the investigators in the matter.

“I have been in Quetta for the last 11 days,” he told Arab News. “The bodies were found on Tuesday. The chief minister has formed a JIT and the heirs of the slain family did not appear before the police to register a complaint against me or my companions.”

Khetran also dismissed reports that claimed he had a private jail at his residence.

The triple murder case led to an outrage on social media where many government officials and rights activists demanded the immediate arrest of the perpetrators of the crime.

Khetran told the local media the allegations had been brought against him within the context of elections this year while blaming one of his own sons, Inam Shah, of being part of the conspiracy to remove him as tribal chief.

Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper said Shah denied the claim while confirming “the three people whose bodies were recovered from the well had been kept in his father’s ‘private jail.’”


China’s Xi, Pakistan’s Dar pledge unity as SCO faces regional strains

Updated 8 sec ago
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China’s Xi, Pakistan’s Dar pledge unity as SCO faces regional strains

  • President Xi Jinping emphasizes importance of the regional cooperation under the SCO framework
  • India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is also attending the regional event

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday highlighted his country’s commitment to strengthening ties with China and reaffirmed a shared vision for regional peace and development during an interaction with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the joint call of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Foreign Ministers in Beijing.

The interaction took place on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) meeting, a key diplomatic gathering aimed at preparing the groundwork for the upcoming SCO Leaders’ Summit later this year. The CFM convened to review progress on multilateral cooperation and set the agenda for endorsement by heads of state.

“Delighted to meet earlier today with President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing,” Dar said in a post on social media platform X. “Conveyed the warm greetings of the leadership, government and people of Pakistan. As iron-clad brothers and All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partners, we remain committed to deepening Pak-China enduring friendship and advancing shared regional goals.”

Islamabad and Beijing are long-time allies and have been jointly working on multibillion-dollar infrastructure, energy and connectivity initiatives under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The corridor provides China direct access to the Arabian Sea through Pakistan’s Gwadar port, while enabling Pakistan to modernize its infrastructure and strengthen regional trade links.

The foreign office of Pakistan said in a statement released earlier today that President Xi emphasized the importance of regional cooperation under the SCO framework, an organization spanning the Eurasian landmass and representing a significant portion of the global population.
Also present at the conference was India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

The CFM conference comes nearly two months after a tense four-day military standoff between Pakistan and India, during which both sides exchanged missiles, drones and artillery fire before agreeing to a US-brokered ceasefire.


Pakistan reviews carbon market plans with UNEP-backed SPAR6C initiative

Updated 21 min 39 sec ago
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Pakistan reviews carbon market plans with UNEP-backed SPAR6C initiative

  • Islamabad is advancing carbon policy launched at COP last year with focus on student training and new trading projects
  • Pakistan has pledged to cut projected emissions by 50 percent by 2030, conditional on international financing and support

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s climate change minister has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to rolling out its first national carbon market, following a meeting on Tuesday with a United Nations-backed initiative helping the country build on carbon market policy guidelines launched last year.

Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Malik hosted a delegation from SPAR6C, the Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation program, which is overseen by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The five-year project is helping Pakistan, Colombia, Thailand and Zambia develop the capacity to trade carbon credits under Article 6 of the Paris climate accord.

“Pakistan is committed to building a robust, transparent, and inclusive carbon market,” Malik said, according to a statement released by his office, adding that deeper cooperation with international partners and the domestic private sector will be key to delivering on the country’s climate goals.

The ministry noted that the meeting reviewed support for Pakistani students who have been trained or conducted research on emissions trading under SPAR6C. Both sides also discussed “ongoing and upcoming carbon trading opportunities in Pakistan and potential projects under evaluation,” though no new agreements were announced.

Pakistan presented its draft carbon market policy guidelines at COP28 in Dubai last year and has been preparing to formally roll them out at COP29 in Baku later this year. Under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, countries can cooperate on cutting emissions by trading carbon credits, potentially unlocking new revenue streams for developing economies.

The South Asian nation does not yet have an operational carbon trading platform but has launched policy guidelines and is developing systems to implement its first market. It ranks among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, facing frequent floods and heatwaves, while contributing only a fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions.

It has pledged to cut projected emissions by 50 percent by 2030, conditional on international financing and support. SPAR6C’s work in Pakistan includes technical assistance, student training and pilot activities to help the country develop robust standards for carbon trading.


Pakistan seeks US tariff access, taps Mideast funds as it re-engages global markets

Updated 49 min 31 sec ago
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Pakistan seeks US tariff access, taps Mideast funds as it re-engages global markets

  • Finance minister says improving macroeconomic indicators strengthening case to tap international markets
  • Pakistan has successfully arranged $1 billion in commercial financing from Middle Eastern, Aurangzeb tells Moody’s

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is re-engaging with global financial markets, tapping funding from the Middle East and pursuing preferential tariff access with the United States as it works to stabilize its economy and attract fresh investment, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Tuesday. 

Pakistan has “successfully arranged $1 billion in commercial financing from the Middle Eastern region” and plans to launch an inaugural Panda bond while exploring a Eurobond and other international debt markets as its credit ratings improve, Aurangzeb said during a briefing with the Moody’s rating agency on Tuesday.

“These changes, together with improving macroeconomic indicators and the reform momentum, would be positively acknowledged by rating agencies, further strengthening Pakistan’s case to tap international markets and deepen its external sector stability,” the finance minister said.

The virtual session, attended by the State Bank governor and senior officials, also highlighted “ongoing discussions with the United States on preferential tariff access,” which the minister described as “making encouraging headway.”

The finance team cited key progress under Pakistan’s IMF-backed economic plan. Recent reforms include “prudent fiscal measures” in the new budget, trade and tariff liberalization for export-led growth, and steps to rationalize spending.

Aurangzeb also pointed to signs of recovery, including a sharp drop in inflation, a lower policy rate, a stable exchange rate, a current account surplus and foreign reserves rising above $14 billion by the end of June.

He underlined plans to raise the tax-to-GDP ratio to 13–13.5 percent in the coming years through technology-driven tax administration, digitization and tougher enforcement. 

Under the prime minister’s direct oversight, he said, a “Rs. 2 trillion revenue delta” was achieved this year through “autonomous efforts.”

Despite repeated external and fiscal pressures, Pakistan says it hopes improved ratings and renewed investor confidence will lower borrowing costs and keep the economy on a sustainable path.

“Pakistan is ready to carry forward this journey of resilience, reform, and recovery to unlock long-term, inclusive, and export-oriented economic growth,” Aurangzeb said.


UK launches eVisas for Pakistani students, workers

Updated 15 July 2025
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UK launches eVisas for Pakistani students, workers

  • New system will help applicants prove their status easily while keeping their passports
  • British officials say eVisas will eventually cover all visa types for UK-bound travelers

ISLAMABAD: The United Kingdom on Tuesday said it was replacing physical visa stickers with digital immigration status records, or eVisas, for most Pakistani students and workers to streamline the application process and make it easier to prove immigration status.

The change means that main applicants traveling to the UK on study or work-related visas will no longer need a physical sticker in their passport. Instead, they will use an online UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account to access and share proof of their status.

“These changes to the UK visa system will make it much simpler for students and workers to prove their identity and visa status. It also means applicants can hold onto their passports, saving them time,” British High Commissioner Jane Marriott said in a statement.

The rollout of eVisas for Pakistani nationals is part of a broader shift toward digital border and immigration systems across the UK. The government says millions of people already use eVisas on select routes, and the system is designed to be more secure and convenient than physical documents.

The new eVisa option covers routes including students (including short-term study), Skilled Workers (including Health and Care visas), Global Talent, International Sportsperson, Youth Mobility Scheme, and various Global Business Mobility and Temporary Work categories.

Holders will be able to link their passport to their UKVI account to make international travel smoother and can securely share their status with employers or landlords in England using the “view and prove” service.

Physical sticker visas will still be required for dependents, general visitors, or any applicants not traveling for study or work. Existing physical visas will remain valid until they expire.

The shift comes as the UK tightens immigration rules for some categories but aims to make the application process more efficient for students and skilled workers, two groups that make up a large share of Pakistani migrants to the UK each year. According to UK Home Office data, tens of thousands of Pakistani nationals travel to the UK annually for higher education and employment opportunities.

The British government said the eVisa system would eventually be expanded to cover all visa routes to create “a more secure and streamlined process for all UK visa customers.”


Nationwide strike looms as Karachi business leaders, transporters unite against ‘anti-business’ tax law

Updated 15 July 2025
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Nationwide strike looms as Karachi business leaders, transporters unite against ‘anti-business’ tax law

  • Shutdown on July 19 could bring economic activity to a standstill, traders and transporters warn
  • Business community is protesting over key provisions in government’s new Finance Act 2025

KARACHI: Pakistan’s largest business chamber has joined forces with goods transporters from across the country to call for a nationwide strike this week on July 19 in protest against key provisions in the government’s new Finance Act 2025, which they say threaten to paralyze economic activity and stifle trade.

The president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), Muhammad Jawed Bilwani, announced the planned shutdown at a press conference on Monday, flanked by senior chamber officials and leaders of multiple transport alliances.

The strike, they warned, will halt the movement of goods and bring business operations to a grinding halt if the federal government fails to suspend what they describe as “anti-business” measures.

“Unless the government puts all these measures in abeyance, the nationwide strike scheduled for July 19 will take place with full force, bringing economic activity across the country to a grinding halt,” Bilwani said, according to the official statement.

The business community says more than 50 trade associations nationwide have pledged formal support for the strike, signaling what could be one of the biggest shutdowns in Pakistan in recent years if the deadlock persists.

The chamber has listed five key demands, including withdrawal of new sections that grant the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) powers to arrest traders, penalties on cash transactions above Rs200,000, mandatory digital invoicing, a new e-bilty requirement for goods transporters, and the restoration of the Final Tax Regime for exporters.

Bilwani said transporters’ associations had pledged “unwavering solidarity” with the business community and committed to a complete wheel-jam strike that will stop the movement of trucks nationwide on July 19.

“No vehicle will move… in absolute unity with the business community,” he said.

This is not the first time Pakistan’s business community has threatened mass shutdowns in response to tax measures. But the show of unity between traders and goods transporters has raised fears of significant supply chain disruptions.

Bilwani said while the Ministry of Finance has made informal contact with the chamber, there has been no official commitment to roll back the controversial measures. He insisted that “only upon suspension of these provisions” would the business community agree to any further talks with lawmakers.

Chairman of the Businessmen Group (BMG) Zubair Motiwala, also speaking at the event, warned that the strike was a last resort:

“While the business community does not favor frequent strikes, the prevailing conditions have left no other option,” he said, according to the KCCI statement.

Transport leaders, including representatives of the Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance and other associations, declared their “full and unconditional support” for the strike and pledged to remain aligned with KCCI’s demands “regardless of the consequences.”