In Pakistan, the death toll in the deadly blast has now topped 44 while more than 200 have been reported injured so far. Local authorities in northwest Pakistan reported that a massive bomb tore through a political event. On the outskirts of Khar in Pakistan's northwest Bajur district, which borders Afghanistan, the fundamentalist Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) party gathering was where the explosion occurred on Sunday.

Deadly explosion in Pakistan: 44 dead, more than 200 injured; motive of attack still unknown | WION

Local authorities in northwest Pakistan reported that a massive bomb that tore through a political event left at least 40 people dead. On the outskirts of Khar in Pakistan's northwest Bajur district, which borders Afghanistan, the fundamentalist Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) party gathering was where the explosion occurred on Sunday.

Pakistan Bomb Blast: Death toll continues to rise, motive of the attack unknown

Dozens killed in bomb blast at political rally in northwest Pakistan

<p>A bomb blast on Sunday (July 30) in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province claimed the lives of at least 44 people and wounded over 200 others. The explosion hit a convention of the Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) in the Khar tehsil Bajaur district .</p>

<p>No group has yet claimed responsibility for the deadly bomb blast, but as per local media reports, the local chapter of the Islamic State (IS) group has carried out attacks against JUI-F in the recent past.</p>

<p>The district emergency officer told Geo News that a local JUI-F leader was also among those killed in the blast.</p>

<p>The official confirmed the name of the deceased as Amir Ziaullah Jan.</p>

<p>As per local media reports, the explosion occurred at a place inside the convention and law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the area.</p>

<p>While speaking to Geo News, JUI-F leader Hafiz Hamdullah said he was also supposed to attend the convention but could not do so because of some personal commitments.</p>

<p>“I strongly condemn the blast and want to give a message to the people behind it that this is not jihad but terrorism,” said the JUI-F &nbsp;leader, adding that the incident was an attack on humanity and Bajaur, Dawn reported.</p>

<p>Riaz Anwar, the health minister for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province said that at least 17 people who had sustained injuries in the explosion were in serious condition.</p>

<p>"I can confirm that in the hospital we have 39 dead bodies, with 123 wounded that includes 17 patients in a serious condition," he told news agency AFP.</p>

<p>"It was a suicide attack, with the bomber detonating himself in close proximity to the stage," he added.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/demonstrators-protest-outside-french-embassy-in-niger-capital-after-paris-suspends-development-aid-620818">Demonstrators protest outside French embassy in Niger capital after Paris suspends development aid</a></p>

<h2><strong>Tent collapsed and trapped people trying to escape, recalls survivor&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>"The tent had collapsed on one side, trapping people who were desperately attempting to escape," AFP quoted Abdullah Khan, who tried to help the victims, as saying.</p>

<p>"There was utter confusion, with human flesh, limbs, and body parts scattered throughout the area, alongside lifeless bodies."</p>

<p>Sabeeh Ullah, a 24-year-old party supporter whose arm got fractured in the incident, said the scale of injuries was frightening. "I found myself lying next to someone who had lost their limbs. The air was filled with the smell of human flesh," he told AFP.</p>

<h2><strong>Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemns attack</strong></h2>

<p>Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif released a statement, strongly condemning the attack targeted at the JUI-F convention, saying that the terrorists aimed at the ones who advocated the cause of Islam, the Holy Quran and Pakistan.</p>

<p>“Terrorists are enemies of Pakistan and they will be eliminated,” he said, adding that elements involved in the incident would be meted out strict punishment.</p>

<p>Later he took to Twitter, now rebranded as X, and said that the enemies who were attacking the political parties showed they were against Pakistan’s democratic system.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="rtl" lang="ur">باجوڑ، خار میں جمیعتِ علماءِ اسلام (ف) کے ورکرز کنوینشن پر حملے کی جتنی بھی مزمت کی جائے کم ہے. سیاسی جماعتوں پر حملے سے واضح ہے کہ دشمن پاکستان میں جمہوری نظام کے خلاف ہے جسکی قطعاً اجازت نہیں دی جائے گی. ذمہ داران کی نشاندہی کرکے انہیں قرار واقعی سزا دی جائے گی. پاکستانی قوم،…</p>
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1685678892940697600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The attack on the workers' convention of Jamiat-e-Ulama-i-Islam (F) in Bajaur, Khar is less to blame. It is clear from the attack on political parties that the enemy is against the democratic system in Pakistan, which will definitely not be allowed. Those responsible will be identified and punished. The Pakistani nation, law enforcement agencies and our protectors will never allow such cowardly tactics of the enemy to succeed. The entire nation, including me, is an equal participant in the grief of the families of those who were martyred in the incident,” he added.</p>

<p>Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid condemned the attack in a statement, adding Kabul "shares its deepest condolences with the affected families".</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from the agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


A bomb blast on Sunday (July 30) in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province claimed the lives of at least 44 people and wounded over 200 others. The explosion hit a convention of the Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) in the Khar tehsil Bajaur district .

A bomb blast on Sunday (July 30) in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province claimed the lives of at least 44 people and wounded over 200 others. The explosion hit a convention of the Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) in the Khar tehsil Bajaur district . No group has yet claimed responsibility for the deadly bomb blast, but as per local media reports, the local chapter of the Islamic State (IS) group has carried out attacks against JUI-F in the recent past. The district emergency officer told Geo News that a local JUI-F leader was also among those killed in the blast. The official confirmed the name of the deceased as Amir Ziaullah Jan. As per local media reports, the explosion occurred at a place inside the convention and law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the area. While speaking to Geo News, JUI-F leader Hafiz Hamdullah said he was also supposed to attend the convention but could not do so because of some personal commitments. “I strongly condemn the blast and want to give a message to the people behind it that this is not jihad but terrorism,” said the JUI-F leader, adding that the incident was an attack on humanity and Bajaur, Dawn reported. Riaz Anwar, the health minister for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province said that at least 17 people who had sustained injuries in the explosion were in serious condition. "I can confirm that in the hospital we have 39 dead bodies, with 123 wounded that includes 17 patients in a serious condition," he told news agency AFP. "It was a suicide attack, with the bomber detonating himself in close proximity to the stage," he added. Also read: Demonstrators protest outside French embassy in Niger capital after Paris suspends development aid Tent collapsed and trapped people trying to escape, recalls survivor "The tent had collapsed on one side, trapping people who were desperately attempting to escape," AFP quoted Abdullah Khan, who tried to help the victims, as saying. "There was utter confusion, with human flesh, limbs, and body parts scattered throughout the area, alongside lifeless bodies." Sabeeh Ullah, a 24-year-old party supporter whose arm got fractured in the incident, said the scale of injuries was frightening. "I found myself lying next to someone who had lost their limbs. The air was filled with the smell of human flesh," he told AFP. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemns attack Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif released a statement, strongly condemning the attack targeted at the JUI-F convention, saying that the terrorists aimed at the ones who advocated the cause of Islam, the Holy Quran and Pakistan. “Terrorists are enemies of Pakistan and they will be eliminated,” he said, adding that elements involved in the incident would be meted out strict punishment. Later he took to Twitter, now rebranded as X, and said that the enemies who were attacking the political parties showed they were against Pakistan’s democratic system. باجوڑ، خار میں جمیعتِ علماءِ اسلام (ف) کے ورکرز کنوینشن پر حملے کی جتنی بھی مزمت کی جائے کم ہے. سیاسی جماعتوں پر حملے سے واضح ہے کہ دشمن پاکستان میں جمہوری نظام کے خلاف ہے جسکی قطعاً اجازت نہیں دی جائے گی. ذمہ داران کی نشاندہی کرکے انہیں قرار واقعی سزا دی جائے گی. پاکستانی قوم،… — Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 30, 2023 × “The attack on the workers' convention of Jamiat-e-Ulama-i-Islam (F) in Bajaur, Khar is less to blame. It is clear from the attack on political parties that the enemy is against the democratic system in Pakistan, which will definitely not be allowed. Those responsible will be identified and punished. The Pakistani nation, law enforcement agencies and our protectors will never allow such cowardly tactics of the enemy to succeed. The entire nation, including me, is an equal participant in the grief of the families of those who were martyred in the incident,” he added. Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid condemned the attack in a statement, adding Kabul "shares its deepest condolences with the affected families". (With inputs from the agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Deadly bomb blast in Pakistan kills at least 44, Pak PM calls it attack against country's democratic system

Pakistan: Bomb blast during party convention organised by Jamiat Ulema-E-Islam

Pakistan's Seema Haider entered India via a 'donkey flight' to meet her lover she met online. What are donkey flights? How do people like Seema Haider get away with it? Join Priyanka Sharma on Gravitas Plus for more

Gravitas Plus: How did Pakistan's Seema Haider enter India?

<p>Naela Quadri, the Prime Minister of the Balochistan government-in-exile, has made an appeal to Indian PM Narendra Modi to extend support at the United Nations to Balochistan's quest for freedom from Pakistan's "illegal" occupation.</p>

<p>Quadri requested Modi and the BJP government to take a stand in favour of Balochistan at the UN recognising the importance of this moment.</p>

<p>"Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP government have an opportunity today to rise in support of Balochistan at the UN, which they may not have tomorrow," Quadri said Friday, reported PTI news agency.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/melting-swiss-glacier-coughs-up-body-remains-of-hiker-who-went-missing-in-1986-620545">Melting Swiss glacier coughs up body remains of hiker who went missing in 1986</a></p>

<p>Quadri is on a world tour to garner support for Balochistan's freedom. She is reaching out to different countries to gather international support for Balochistan's freedom from Pakistan's control.</p>

<p>Her Friday remarks seeking India's support came after she performed a puja at the VIP ghat of the Ganga in Uttarakhand, praying for her cause.</p>

<h2><strong>Baloch exploitation&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Quadri highlighted that Balochistan, which was once an independent country, is currently under the illegal occupation of Pakistan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She expressed concern over the exploitation of Balochistan's rich mineral resources and the numerous atrocities being inflicted upon its people.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/asian-masalanomics-for-spice-trade-spiced-up-in-vietnam-2000-years-ago-reveals-study-620534">Asian masalanomics for spice trade spiced up in Vietnam 2000 years ago, reveals study</a></p>

<p>Quadri pointed out the dire situation where Baloch girls are being subjected to rape, and the burning of houses and orchards is rampant. Moreover, she accused Pakistan of colluding with China to further oppress the Baloch people.</p>

<p>"Pakistan is not doing it alone. It has also roped in China to perpetrate atrocities on the Baloch people," Quadri said.</p>

<p>"Balochistan, which was once an independent country, is under the illegal occupation of Pakistan, which is looting its mineral resources and subjecting its people to all sorts of atrocities. Baloch girls are being raped, houses and orchards are being set on fire," she said.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Rains soak Northern China as Doksuri makes its way to Beijing</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/rains-soak-northern-china-as-doksuri-makes-its-way-to-beijing-620555/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Quadri said that if India supports Balochistan's cause at the UN, her government-in-exile would reciprocate by supporting India when Balochistan achieves independence. Quadri highlighted the shared experiences of India and Balochistan, stressing how both regions have endured oppression in the name of religion.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Naela Quadri, the Prime Minister of the Balochistan government-in-exile, has made an appeal to Indian PM Narendra Modi to extend support at the United Nations to Balochistan's quest for freedom from Pakistan's "illegal" occupation.

Naela Quadri, the Prime Minister of the Balochistan government-in-exile, has made an appeal to Indian PM Narendra Modi to extend support at the United Nations to Balochistan's quest for freedom from Pakistan's "illegal" occupation. Quadri requested Modi and the BJP government to take a stand in favour of Balochistan at the UN recognising the importance of this moment. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP government have an opportunity today to rise in support of Balochistan at the UN, which they may not have tomorrow," Quadri said Friday, reported PTI news agency. Also Read | Melting Swiss glacier coughs up body remains of hiker who went missing in 1986 Quadri is on a world tour to garner support for Balochistan's freedom. She is reaching out to different countries to gather international support for Balochistan's freedom from Pakistan's control. Her Friday remarks seeking India's support came after she performed a puja at the VIP ghat of the Ganga in Uttarakhand, praying for her cause. Baloch exploitation Quadri highlighted that Balochistan, which was once an independent country, is currently under the illegal occupation of Pakistan. She expressed concern over the exploitation of Balochistan's rich mineral resources and the numerous atrocities being inflicted upon its people. Also Read | Asian masalanomics for spice trade spiced up in Vietnam 2000 years ago, reveals study Quadri pointed out the dire situation where Baloch girls are being subjected to rape, and the burning of houses and orchards is rampant. Moreover, she accused Pakistan of colluding with China to further oppress the Baloch people. "Pakistan is not doing it alone. It has also roped in China to perpetrate atrocities on the Baloch people," Quadri said. "Balochistan, which was once an independent country, is under the illegal occupation of Pakistan, which is looting its mineral resources and subjecting its people to all sorts of atrocities. Baloch girls are being raped, houses and orchards are being set on fire," she said. Watch | Rains soak Northern China as Doksuri makes its way to Beijing × Quadri said that if India supports Balochistan's cause at the UN, her government-in-exile would reciprocate by supporting India when Balochistan achieves independence. Quadri highlighted the shared experiences of India and Balochistan, stressing how both regions have endured oppression in the name of religion. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Balochistan PM-in-exile seeks support of India's Modi at UN for freedom from Pakistan

Almost a year after the Tariq Taliban Pakistan or the TTP called off a truce that was agreed upon with the Pakistani government in June 2022 the country has doubled down on its January 2023 stalls. Pakistan is not willing to engage with the TTP in talks and Pakistan has once again categorically stated that it will not hold any talks with the TTP nor will such a dialogue be held in the future.

Homegrown terror haunts Pakistan

Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif's close aide has admitted that drones are being used to send drugs into India. Priyanka Sharma brings you a report on Pakistan's narco-terrorism.

Gravitas: Pak official admits drones are dropping drugs in India | Pakistan's narco-terrorism exposed

Pakistan is sending back Afghan refugees to face the Taliban's repression. Over 530 refugees have been sent back in recent months. Priyanka Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: Pakistan is forcibly deporting Afghan refugees

<p>In February 1999, India's then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee noticed too big a diplomatic slight to be left unnoticed at a helipad near Governor's House in Pakistan's Lahore. Pakistani army chief General Pervez Musharraf, while receiving the visiting Indian prime minister, was wearing his official military uniform and not a ceremonial one as he was supposed to according to the established protocol.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On the Indian side, this was interpreted as the Pakistani deep state's boorish show of disagreement against Vajpayee's unprecedented peace overtures; the Pakistani army's implicit act of resistance to peace with India that it concluded by occupying Indian military posts in Jammu and Kashmir.</p>

<p>A month later in March 1999, Vajpayee called Niaz Naik — Islamabad's emissary for peace talks with New Delhi that were finalised as part of Vajpayee's Lahore visit — and told him to send a message to the Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The message was clear. Come summer and Pakistani armed forces would stop giving cover fire to the terrorists crossing over the Line of Control into India's Jammu and Kashmir. But to everyone's surprise in New Delhi, the summer was going to be different from previous summers of decades of prolonged India-Pakistan conflict.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The above two incidents are mentioned in two of Vajpayee's biographies, 'Vajpayee: the years that changed India', authored by his former personal secretary Shakti Sinha, and 'Atal Bihari Vajpayee: A man of all seasons' authored by Kingshuk Nag.</p>

<p>On 3 May 1999, two weeks after the resignation of the second Vajpayee government, a Buddhist shepherd in Kargil —barely a few kilometres from the Line of Control or LoC, the de facto boundary between India and Pakistan — chanced upon a number of Pakistani soldiers in camouflage.</p>

<p>Soldiers who went to investigate were ambushed, and an ammunition dump was blown up.</p>

<p>Vajpayee, now a ‘caretaker’ prime minister after losing a parliamentary no-trust vote, was informally briefed. He immediately called a cabinet meeting to discuss ‘some urgent matter’.</p>

<p>Around 1,500 to 2,400 Pakistani military men and irregular fighters had entrenched themselves along a 150-odd kilometre stretch on the Indian side of the LoC at heights of 16,000&nbsp;feet. Pakistan kept on claiming that it was the so-called Mujahideen who were on the heights and not its army men. They were firing down below at the Srinagar–Leh highway, the lifeline for civilian and military supplies to northern Kashmir.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Vajpayee's strategic showpiece</strong></h2>

<p>While the Indian army was raining conventional fire to dislodge the Pakistanis, Vajpayee pulled off a remarkable strategic showpiece that catapulted previously pro-Pakistan US-led West to the Indian side. The caretaker prime minister explicitly ordered Indian Air Force planes to not cross the Line of Control, a signal to the international community that India, unlike Pakistan, respected the de-facto international boundary. "We knew we will fiercely defend ourselves not invade," Vajpayee said of his unconventional decision in New Delhi months later during his Independence Day address.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile on 12 June&nbsp;1999, in the thick of the fighting in Kargil, the then Pakistani foreign minister Sartaj Aziz visited New Delhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Aziz, without agreeing to go back to the LoC status quo in Kargil, called for a ceasefire in a manner that occupied Indian posts would fall on the Pakistani side.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Aziz used the excuse that since the LoC was ‘unclear’, some inadvertent transgression might well have taken place.</p>

<p>"If the Pakistan Army was not involved in the intrusion and it was the Mujahideen, then why were they asking for a ceasefire?," Shakti Sinha writes of Sartaj Aziz-Jaswat Singh talks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"And since when were the Mujahideen bound by the India–Pakistan agreement? Their stupidity was breathtaking and audacious."</p>

<p>After Sartaj Aziz's Delhi visit, when the Pakistan Army and the country’s political leadership both requested the US to intervene and help bring about a ceasefire, Vajpayee, in his telephonic conversations with the then US President Bill Clinton, made it clear that 'either Pakistanis could vacate Indian territory on their own, or India would throw them out the way it deemed best', Sinha writes further.</p>

<p>Clinton publicly rebuked Pakistan and called upon it to withdraw its troops back to the LoC at the earliest and respect the 'sanctity of the Line of Control.'&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>How Vajpayee delegated India's intense diplomacy during the war in Kargil?</strong></h2>

<p>Clinton's rebuke of Sharif was not a surprise in New Delhi's power corridors. India's intense diplomatic effort for weeks had built up to that moment.</p>

<p>Full-page advertisements rebuking Pakistan had made their way to the international press.</p>

<p>Vajpayee sent out extensive tours of the United States which were led by senior leaders Sushma Swaraj and Narendra Modi, the latter was to become India's Prime Minister fifteen years later while the former served in his cabinet as foreign minister.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As a result of the lobbying, what followed was the US imposing sanctions on Pakistan, which included blocking all assistance from international institutions like the IMF and World Bank. In fact, the House of Representatives subcommittee, led by Congressman Jim McDermott, had agreed on a far lower level of sanctions, but the thousands of fax messages that his office, and those of the other members, received —ensured an enhanced level of sanctions against Pakistan.</p>

<p>The war was technically over on 4 July&nbsp;1999, when Clinton dressed down Sharif.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But again, if the Pakistani leadership was withdrawing and conceding at the diplomatic level, the reality on the ground differed. There were fierce counter-attacks still taking place as the retreating Pakistani soldiers would withdraw from some posts but occupy others.</p>

<p>They left behind anti-personnel mines at&nbsp;locations they were vacating.</p>

<p>Even the dead bodies of Pakistani soldiers were booby-trapped to inflict last-minute casualties on the Indian side. Thus the actual conflict with the retreating Pakistan Army ended only on 26 July, which India now celebrates as the Kargil Vijay Diwas.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></p>


In February 1999, India's then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee noticed too big a diplomatic slight to be left unnoticed at a helipad near Governor's House in Pakistan's Lahore.

In February 1999, India's then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee noticed too big a diplomatic slight to be left unnoticed at a helipad near Governor's House in Pakistan's Lahore. Pakistani army chief General Pervez Musharraf, while receiving the visiting Indian prime minister, was wearing his official military uniform and not a ceremonial one as he was supposed to according to the established protocol. On the Indian side, this was interpreted as the Pakistani deep state's boorish show of disagreement against Vajpayee's unprecedented peace overtures; the Pakistani army's implicit act of resistance to peace with India that it concluded by occupying Indian military posts in Jammu and Kashmir. A month later in March 1999, Vajpayee called Niaz Naik — Islamabad's emissary for peace talks with New Delhi that were finalised as part of Vajpayee's Lahore visit — and told him to send a message to the Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The message was clear. Come summer and Pakistani armed forces would stop giving cover fire to the terrorists crossing over the Line of Control into India's Jammu and Kashmir. But to everyone's surprise in New Delhi, the summer was going to be different from previous summers of decades of prolonged India-Pakistan conflict. The above two incidents are mentioned in two of Vajpayee's biographies, 'Vajpayee: the years that changed India', authored by his former personal secretary Shakti Sinha, and 'Atal Bihari Vajpayee: A man of all seasons' authored by Kingshuk Nag. On 3 May 1999, two weeks after the resignation of the second Vajpayee government, a Buddhist shepherd in Kargil —barely a few kilometres from the Line of Control or LoC, the de facto boundary between India and Pakistan — chanced upon a number of Pakistani soldiers in camouflage. Soldiers who went to investigate were ambushed, and an ammunition dump was blown up. Vajpayee, now a ‘caretaker’ prime minister after losing a parliamentary no-trust vote, was informally briefed. He immediately called a cabinet meeting to discuss ‘some urgent matter’. Around 1,500 to 2,400 Pakistani military men and irregular fighters had entrenched themselves along a 150-odd kilometre stretch on the Indian side of the LoC at heights of 16,000 feet. Pakistan kept on claiming that it was the so-called Mujahideen who were on the heights and not its army men. They were firing down below at the Srinagar–Leh highway, the lifeline for civilian and military supplies to northern Kashmir. Vajpayee's strategic showpiece While the Indian army was raining conventional fire to dislodge the Pakistanis, Vajpayee pulled off a remarkable strategic showpiece that catapulted previously pro-Pakistan US-led West to the Indian side. The caretaker prime minister explicitly ordered Indian Air Force planes to not cross the Line of Control, a signal to the international community that India, unlike Pakistan, respected the de-facto international boundary. "We knew we will fiercely defend ourselves not invade," Vajpayee said of his unconventional decision in New Delhi months later during his Independence Day address. Meanwhile on 12 June 1999, in the thick of the fighting in Kargil, the then Pakistani foreign minister Sartaj Aziz visited New Delhi. Aziz, without agreeing to go back to the LoC status quo in Kargil, called for a ceasefire in a manner that occupied Indian posts would fall on the Pakistani side. Aziz used the excuse that since the LoC was ‘unclear’, some inadvertent transgression might well have taken place. "If the Pakistan Army was not involved in the intrusion and it was the Mujahideen, then why were they asking for a ceasefire?," Shakti Sinha writes of Sartaj Aziz-Jaswat Singh talks. "And since when were the Mujahideen bound by the India–Pakistan agreement? Their stupidity was breathtaking and audacious." After Sartaj Aziz's Delhi visit, when the Pakistan Army and the country’s political leadership both requested the US to intervene and help bring about a ceasefire, Vajpayee, in his telephonic conversations with the then US President Bill Clinton, made it clear that 'either Pakistanis could vacate Indian territory on their own, or India would throw them out the way it deemed best', Sinha writes further. Clinton publicly rebuked Pakistan and called upon it to withdraw its troops back to the LoC at the earliest and respect the 'sanctity of the Line of Control.' How Vajpayee delegated India's intense diplomacy during the war in Kargil? Clinton's rebuke of Sharif was not a surprise in New Delhi's power corridors. India's intense diplomatic effort for weeks had built up to that moment. Full-page advertisements rebuking Pakistan had made their way to the international press. Vajpayee sent out extensive tours of the United States which were led by senior leaders Sushma Swaraj and Narendra Modi, the latter was to become India's Prime Minister fifteen years later while the former served in his cabinet as foreign minister. As a result of the lobbying, what followed was the US imposing sanctions on Pakistan, which included blocking all assistance from international institutions like the IMF and World Bank. In fact, the House of Representatives subcommittee, led by Congressman Jim McDermott, had agreed on a far lower level of sanctions, but the thousands of fax messages that his office, and those of the other members, received —ensured an enhanced level of sanctions against Pakistan. The war was technically over on 4 July 1999, when Clinton dressed down Sharif. But again, if the Pakistani leadership was withdrawing and conceding at the diplomatic level, the reality on the ground differed. There were fierce counter-attacks still taking place as the retreating Pakistani soldiers would withdraw from some posts but occupy others. They left behind anti-personnel mines at locations they were vacating. Even the dead bodies of Pakistani soldiers were booby-trapped to inflict last-minute casualties on the Indian side. Thus the actual conflict with the retreating Pakistan Army ended only on 26 July, which India now celebrates as the Kargil Vijay Diwas. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Cast from the Past: How India's 'most loved' prime minister stunned Pakistan in Kargil

<p>Pakistan's Islamia University Bahawalpur (IUB) is facing a serious investigation after police revealed disturbing allegations of drug trafficking and sexual exploitation involving students and faculty members.</p>

<p>A special report by the police has shed light on a potential scandal that has rocked the university community.</p>

<h2><strong>Arrests and recoveries uncover startling evidence</strong></h2>

<p>As part of the ongoing probe, the police have made significant arrests, including that of the IUB treasurer, who was found in possession of meth and aphrodisiacs.</p>

<p>The university's chief of security has also been accused of having sexually explicit videos of students and staff members on his mobile phone, as per an India Today report.</p>

<h2><strong>Allegations of blackmail and sexual exploitation emerge</strong></h2>

<p>The investigation has revealed shocking details, with police alleging that the arrested university officials were involved in blackmail and sexual exploitation of students and staff.</p>

<p>According to a report by Dawn, the varsity treasurer confessed to purchasing and distributing drugs through students and organising dance/sex parties with a group of other teachers.</p>

<p><strong>Watch this report:&nbsp;Islamia University of Bahawalpur: Drugs, blackmail and sex parties</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/islamia-university-of-bahawalpur-drugs-blackmail-and-sex-parties-619868/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2><strong>Vulnerable students targeted in years-long trade</strong></h2>

<p>Reports suggest that this illicit trade of drugs and exploitation has been ongoing for several years. Female students from financially weak and vulnerable backgrounds were reportedly targeted in these heinous acts.</p>

<h2><strong>University responds and seeks high-level inquiry</strong></h2>

<p>In response to the police action and allegations, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Athar Mehboob of IUB has written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) requesting a high-level inquiry team to investigate the arrests.</p>

<p>The university claims to follow a zero-tolerance policy against drug use and sexual harassment, asserting that the cases against the officials are baseless.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-defence-minister-khawaja-asif-calls-pti-women-lawmakers-garbage-draws-flak-620049">Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif calls PTI women lawmakers ‘garbage', draws flak</a></p>

<h2><strong>Higher Education Commission initiates high-level committee</strong></h2>

<p>Taking cognisance of the gravity of the situation, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has formed a high-level committee to investigate the scandal at IUB.</p>

<p>The committee comprises three vice-chancellors and officials from security agencies and has been tasked with conducting a thorough inquiry, examining all relevant evidence, and collecting testimonies to ascertain the truth behind the disturbing allegations.</p>

<p>The scandal at Islamia University Bahawalpur has sent shockwaves across Pakistan, with authorities and the public demanding a comprehensive investigation into these grave accusations.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></p>


Pakistan's Islamia University Bahawalpur (IUB) is facing a serious investigation after police revealed disturbing allegations of drug trafficking and sexual exploitation involving students and faculty members.

Pakistan's Islamia University Bahawalpur (IUB) is facing a serious investigation after police revealed disturbing allegations of drug trafficking and sexual exploitation involving students and faculty members. A special report by the police has shed light on a potential scandal that has rocked the university community. Arrests and recoveries uncover startling evidence As part of the ongoing probe, the police have made significant arrests, including that of the IUB treasurer, who was found in possession of meth and aphrodisiacs. The university's chief of security has also been accused of having sexually explicit videos of students and staff members on his mobile phone, as per an India Today report. Allegations of blackmail and sexual exploitation emerge The investigation has revealed shocking details, with police alleging that the arrested university officials were involved in blackmail and sexual exploitation of students and staff. According to a report by Dawn, the varsity treasurer confessed to purchasing and distributing drugs through students and organising dance/sex parties with a group of other teachers. Watch this report: Islamia University of Bahawalpur: Drugs, blackmail and sex parties Vulnerable students targeted in years-long trade Reports suggest that this illicit trade of drugs and exploitation has been ongoing for several years. Female students from financially weak and vulnerable backgrounds were reportedly targeted in these heinous acts. University responds and seeks high-level inquiry In response to the police action and allegations, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Athar Mehboob of IUB has written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) requesting a high-level inquiry team to investigate the arrests. The university claims to follow a zero-tolerance policy against drug use and sexual harassment, asserting that the cases against the officials are baseless. Also read | Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif calls PTI women lawmakers ‘garbage', draws flak Higher Education Commission initiates high-level committee Taking cognisance of the gravity of the situation, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has formed a high-level committee to investigate the scandal at IUB. The committee comprises three vice-chancellors and officials from security agencies and has been tasked with conducting a thorough inquiry, examining all relevant evidence, and collecting testimonies to ascertain the truth behind the disturbing allegations. The scandal at Islamia University Bahawalpur has sent shockwaves across Pakistan, with authorities and the public demanding a comprehensive investigation into these grave accusations. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Pak university scandal: Professors peddle meth, record compromising videos of 5,500 students, teachers

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif is being slammed for his sexist remarks in the Pakistani parliament. The leader called PTI'S women parliamentarians 'ruins of Imran Khan'.

Gravitas: Khawaja Asif's sexist remarks against PTI leaders trigger outrage

Cash strapped Pakistan has got a much-needed financial help. This time from its 'all-weather friend China'. Pakistan's finance minister Ishaq Dar said on Thursday said that Beijing has rolled over a 2.4 billion loan for a two-year period this move is likely to help Pakistan tide over its forex reserves crisis. Pakistan's forex reserves can barely cover two months of import bills.

China rolls over $2.4 bn loan for next 2 years: Pakistan | World News | WION

India has for long accused Pakistan of narco-terrorism but Islamabad has denied all such claims. Now in a major turn, a senior member of Pakistan government has acknowledged the drug menace which Pakistan has been unleashing from its territory.

Pakistani official admits to narco-terrorism, first ever admission by government official

Pakistan is in a looming crisis again. The nation is facing a fresh set of challenges. The all-important oil deal between Pakistan and Russia has hit a roadblock. Pakistan’s plan to import oil from Russia may delay further.

Why did Pakistan's plan to import Russian crude oil hit a roadblock?

<p>Nearly two years after the Pakistani deep state welcomed the Taliban's comeback to power in Afghanistan, the United Nations Security Council in its latest report said that the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan has "emboldened" Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan [TTP], resulting in an increase in cross-border attacks in Pakistan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It noted that there was evidence that several global terrorist entities are using the TTP as cover to evade restrictions of the Afghan Taliban, adding that greater restrictions over such groups could push them to join the Islamic State of Khorasan (ISKP).</p>

<p>The report claimed that in June 2023, some TTP operatives were relocated away from the Pak-Afghan border at a request from Pakistan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the TTP could become a regional threat if it continues enjoying the patronage of the Taliban, it says, adding that "one" member state noted that TTP was being aided by Al Qaeda Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>How Pakistan's support to Taliban is haunting it now?</strong></h2>

<p>The ties between Afghan Taliban and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan have been forged in decades of war both inside Afghanistan and across the border in Pakistan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The leader of the TTP has sworn allegiance to the Taliban's so-called emir and says his group is part of the Taliban's Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/afghan-and-pakistani-taliban-collaborated-on-recent-attacks-targeting-pak-law-enforcement-583046">Afghanistan, Pakistani Taliban 'collaborated' on attacks targeting Pak law enforcement</a></strong></p>

<p>In recent years, the TTP is known to have garnered support from factions of Afghanistan's current Taliban rulers to aim its agenda of expanding Afghanistan's borders beyond the Durand Line, the internationally recognised Pakistan-Afghanistan border which Kabul deems invalid because it was created by British imperialists.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Ayman al-Zawahiri successor still in Iran: UN report</strong></h2>

<p>The report while quoting assessments of "some member states" claims that Saif al-Adl, most likely to succeed Ayman al-Zawahiri, is still in Iran.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It further adds that the numerical strength of al-Qaeda Central in Afghanistan is between 30 to 60 members, while its fighters are estimated to be 400, reaching 2,000 with family members included. Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent has approximately 200 fighters.</p>

<p>The report further noted that Islamic State Khorasan (ISKP) continues to pose the most serious threat in Afghanistan and the wider region and beyond to Europe highlighting the group's recent high-profile attacks in Afghanistan against senior Taliban leaders.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Pak accuses Afghan Taliban of harbouring TTP militants</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pak-accuses-afghan-taliban-of-harbouring-ttp-militants-618332/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>It adds that Mawlawi Rajab, previously identified as ISKP leader, Shahab al-Muhajir's deputy, has been appointed as Head of external operations of ISKP.</p>

<p>The report termed the claim of one State member that Sanaullah Ghafari (Shahab al-Muhajir) was killed in June, as "not confirmed".</p>

<p>The report assessed that ISKP might pursue high-impact operations against Western countries and their interests abroad in the medium term, as evidenced by a recently disrupted attack in Strasbourg, France.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Nearly two years after the Pakistani deep state welcomed the Taliban's comeback to power in Afghanistan, the United Nations Security Council in its latest report said that the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan has "emboldened" Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan [TTP], resulting in an increase in cross-border attacks in Pakistan.

Nearly two years after the Pakistani deep state welcomed the Taliban's comeback to power in Afghanistan, the United Nations Security Council in its latest report said that the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan has "emboldened" Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan [TTP], resulting in an increase in cross-border attacks in Pakistan. It noted that there was evidence that several global terrorist entities are using the TTP as cover to evade restrictions of the Afghan Taliban, adding that greater restrictions over such groups could push them to join the Islamic State of Khorasan (ISKP). The report claimed that in June 2023, some TTP operatives were relocated away from the Pak-Afghan border at a request from Pakistan. However, the TTP could become a regional threat if it continues enjoying the patronage of the Taliban, it says, adding that "one" member state noted that TTP was being aided by Al Qaeda Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). How Pakistan's support to Taliban is haunting it now? The ties between Afghan Taliban and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan have been forged in decades of war both inside Afghanistan and across the border in Pakistan. The leader of the TTP has sworn allegiance to the Taliban's so-called emir and says his group is part of the Taliban's Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Also read | Afghanistan, Pakistani Taliban 'collaborated' on attacks targeting Pak law enforcement In recent years, the TTP is known to have garnered support from factions of Afghanistan's current Taliban rulers to aim its agenda of expanding Afghanistan's borders beyond the Durand Line, the internationally recognised Pakistan-Afghanistan border which Kabul deems invalid because it was created by British imperialists. Ayman al-Zawahiri successor still in Iran: UN report The report while quoting assessments of "some member states" claims that Saif al-Adl, most likely to succeed Ayman al-Zawahiri, is still in Iran. It further adds that the numerical strength of al-Qaeda Central in Afghanistan is between 30 to 60 members, while its fighters are estimated to be 400, reaching 2,000 with family members included. Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent has approximately 200 fighters. The report further noted that Islamic State Khorasan (ISKP) continues to pose the most serious threat in Afghanistan and the wider region and beyond to Europe highlighting the group's recent high-profile attacks in Afghanistan against senior Taliban leaders. Also watch | Pak accuses Afghan Taliban of harbouring TTP militants × It adds that Mawlawi Rajab, previously identified as ISKP leader, Shahab al-Muhajir's deputy, has been appointed as Head of external operations of ISKP. The report termed the claim of one State member that Sanaullah Ghafari (Shahab al-Muhajir) was killed in June, as "not confirmed". The report assessed that ISKP might pursue high-impact operations against Western countries and their interests abroad in the medium term, as evidenced by a recently disrupted attack in Strasbourg, France. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Pakistan's support to Taliban regime emboldens terror inside its borders: UN report

A married Pakistani woman illegally entered into India to unite with her lover. A married Indian woman went to Pakistan to meet her lover she befriended on Facebook. Why do forbidden love stories trend? Priyanka Sharma brings you the details.

Gravitas: The case of Pakistan's Seema Haider & India's Anju

<p>Indian Army has issued a warning regarding the cybersecurity threat to school-going children, which is apparently coming from Pakistan. This comes after media reported that Pakistani intelligence operatives (PIOs) were seeking information from army school students.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These operatives are asking the students about their parents and also quiz them to join WhatsApp groups. As quoted by reports, the Army said that since yesterday, students across the nation have been receiving calls and WhatsApp messages from PIO.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Quoting sources, Indian media outlet Hindustan Times reported:&nbsp;"Since Monday, students have been receiving calls and WhatsApp messages from Pakistani intelligence operatives from two numbers which are 8617321715, 962226216."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/how-indias-most-loved-prime-minister-stunned-pakistan-in-kargil-619436">How India's 'most loved' prime minister stunned Pakistan in Kargil</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Callers reportedly pose as teachers and ask children for information such as - One Time Password&nbsp;(OTPs), in order to allow them to join WhatsApp groups. &nbsp;</p>

<p>They are calling and sending messages by first providing a reference to someone the youngsters know.</p>

<p>The official statement by the Indian Army read: "Pakistani intelligence operatives are resorting to a new kind of cyberattack, where they are focusing on school students."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Army called it an "alarming trend" that needs to be addressed promptly as it highlights that such incidents have the potential to compromise national security.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-wakes-up-to-heavy-rains-after-yamuna-reaches-below-danger-mark-imd-issues-yellow-alert-619488">Delhi wakes up to heavy rains after Yamuna reaches below danger mark; IMD issues 'yellow' alert</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Students living in border regions, where cross-border infiltration efforts are more, are the prime targets of these attacks. The hackers want to take advantage of the proximity of these regions to sensitive locations as a strategic advantage in order to gain access to critical information.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The authorities have also advised that cybersecurity knowledge and protective measures be promoted at both the individual and institutional levels.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A spokesperson for the Indian Army said, "We are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with relevant authorities to counter these cyber threats effectively. It is essential for parents and schools to educate students about responsible online behaviour and reporting any suspicious activities."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Indian Army has issued a warning regarding the cybersecurity threat to school-going children, which is apparently coming from Pakistan. This comes after media reported that Pakistani intelligence operatives (PIOs) were seeking information from army school students.

Indian Army has issued a warning regarding the cybersecurity threat to school-going children, which is apparently coming from Pakistan. This comes after media reported that Pakistani intelligence operatives (PIOs) were seeking information from army school students. These operatives are asking the students about their parents and also quiz them to join WhatsApp groups. As quoted by reports, the Army said that since yesterday, students across the nation have been receiving calls and WhatsApp messages from PIO. Quoting sources, Indian media outlet Hindustan Times reported: "Since Monday, students have been receiving calls and WhatsApp messages from Pakistani intelligence operatives from two numbers which are 8617321715, 962226216." Also read: How India's 'most loved' prime minister stunned Pakistan in Kargil Callers reportedly pose as teachers and ask children for information such as - One Time Password (OTPs), in order to allow them to join WhatsApp groups. They are calling and sending messages by first providing a reference to someone the youngsters know. The official statement by the Indian Army read: "Pakistani intelligence operatives are resorting to a new kind of cyberattack, where they are focusing on school students." The Army called it an "alarming trend" that needs to be addressed promptly as it highlights that such incidents have the potential to compromise national security. Also read: Delhi wakes up to heavy rains after Yamuna reaches below danger mark; IMD issues 'yellow' alert Students living in border regions, where cross-border infiltration efforts are more, are the prime targets of these attacks. The hackers want to take advantage of the proximity of these regions to sensitive locations as a strategic advantage in order to gain access to critical information. The authorities have also advised that cybersecurity knowledge and protective measures be promoted at both the individual and institutional levels. A spokesperson for the Indian Army said, "We are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with relevant authorities to counter these cyber threats effectively. It is essential for parents and schools to educate students about responsible online behaviour and reporting any suspicious activities." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Pakistani intel operatives target Indian students in cyber snooping, seek information

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidZNNudatNzWa8" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Minority communities in Pakistan continue to suffer a harrowing fate. On Monday, minarets of a worship place belonging to the minority Ahmadi community were destroyed by unknown men. Apart from the demolition, "hateful" graffiti was drawn on the walls, a spokesperson of the community said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The incident took place in Karachi's Drigh Road area within the limits of Shah Faisal Colony. Around a dozen people entered the place of worship around 3:45 pm on Monday and destroyed the building using hammers, before fleeing the scene.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Initial reports suggest that around four people climbed up and damaged the minarets with hammers,” said senior police official Tariq Nawaz, adding that a FIr had been registered.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Amir Mehmood, a spokesperson of the community, said the worship place, Baitul Mubarik, has&nbsp;existed since partition. Mehmood added it was the third attack on an Ahmadi worship place.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Two months back, two of our worship places in Saddar and Martin Quarters areas were also vandalised," said Mehmood. “The government has utterly failed to provide security to Ahmadi places of worship."</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Hindu temple in Pakistan's Sindh attacked with rocket launchers</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hindu-temple-in-pakistans-sindh-attacked-with-rocket-launchers-616676/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The entire Ahmadi community is highly discriminated against in the South Asian country. In 1974, the Pakistani parliament declared the Ahmadi community as non-Muslim. Since then, radical political leaders and parties have routinely targeted the community to earn their stripes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We have seen it in the past too that political parties use the religious card to woo voters by whipping up emotions,” added Mehmood.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/150-year-old-hindu-temple-demolished-rockets-launched-on-another-in-pakistans-sindh-province-616339" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | No construction of building on plot of century-old Hindu temple will be allowed: Karachi mayor</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>UN condemns Pakistan</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier this month, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in a letter to Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland expressed concern over the treatment of Ahmadis.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We would like to bring to the attention of your Excellency’s Government the information we have received concerning growing discrimination and rising incidents of hate speech and incitement to violence against the Ahmadi religious minority in Pakistan, including attacks against places of worship and other acts of intimidation," read the letter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The destruction of Ahmadi place of worship comes barely a week after reports emerged of the demolition of a century-old Hindu temple in Soldier Bazaar of Sindh province.</p>

<p>The Hindu community had claimed that 150-year-old Mari Mata Temple in Soldier Bazaar was demolished after the property was sold to a builder allegedly by using ‘fake documents’.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Minority communities in Pakistan continue to suffer a harrowing fate. On Monday, minarets of a worship place belonging to the minority Ahmadi community were destroyed by unknown men.

Minority communities in Pakistan continue to suffer a harrowing fate. On Monday, minarets of a worship place belonging to the minority Ahmadi community were destroyed by unknown men. Apart from the demolition, "hateful" graffiti was drawn on the walls, a spokesperson of the community said. The incident took place in Karachi's Drigh Road area within the limits of Shah Faisal Colony. Around a dozen people entered the place of worship around 3:45 pm on Monday and destroyed the building using hammers, before fleeing the scene. “Initial reports suggest that around four people climbed up and damaged the minarets with hammers,” said senior police official Tariq Nawaz, adding that a FIr had been registered. Amir Mehmood, a spokesperson of the community, said the worship place, Baitul Mubarik, has existed since partition. Mehmood added it was the third attack on an Ahmadi worship place. “Two months back, two of our worship places in Saddar and Martin Quarters areas were also vandalised," said Mehmood. “The government has utterly failed to provide security to Ahmadi places of worship." Watch | Hindu temple in Pakistan's Sindh attacked with rocket launchers × The entire Ahmadi community is highly discriminated against in the South Asian country. In 1974, the Pakistani parliament declared the Ahmadi community as non-Muslim. Since then, radical political leaders and parties have routinely targeted the community to earn their stripes. “We have seen it in the past too that political parties use the religious card to woo voters by whipping up emotions,” added Mehmood. Also read | No construction of building on plot of century-old Hindu temple will be allowed: Karachi mayor UN condemns Pakistan Earlier this month, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in a letter to Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland expressed concern over the treatment of Ahmadis. “We would like to bring to the attention of your Excellency’s Government the information we have received concerning growing discrimination and rising incidents of hate speech and incitement to violence against the Ahmadi religious minority in Pakistan, including attacks against places of worship and other acts of intimidation," read the letter. The destruction of Ahmadi place of worship comes barely a week after reports emerged of the demolition of a century-old Hindu temple in Soldier Bazaar of Sindh province. The Hindu community had claimed that 150-year-old Mari Mata Temple in Soldier Bazaar was demolished after the property was sold to a builder allegedly by using ‘fake documents’. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Ahmadi place of worship vandalised in Karachi as minorities continue to suffer in Pakistan

Big setback for Imran Khan, the Supreme Court has snubbed his plea on the Toshakhana case. The former Prime Minister's appeal was against the Islamabad High Court's decision send the case back to the trial court for hearing.

Pakistan: Supreme Court rejects former PM Imran Khan's plea, row over Toshakhana case continues

The Kargil war of 1999 was fought 52 years after Indian independence. The war commenced shortly after the signing of the Lahore declaration in 1999, when the Pakistan Army surreptitiously occupied the winter-vacated posts of the Indian Army. The Pakistani move is thought to be spearheaded by general Pervez Musharraf, then chief of the Pakistan army.

'India ready to cross Line of Control': Rajnath Singh slams Pakistan on Kargil Vijay Diwas | WION

<p>After reports of a 34-year-old married Indian woman and a mother of two, named Anju getting married to her 29 years old Pakistani Facebook friend Nasrullah, the duo denied the claims reports India Today media portal.</p>

<p>The denial of the came after Pakistani police confirmed that both tied the knot in a local court of a district and sessions judge after Anju converted to Islam. Notably, Anju travelled to Pakistan legally on a valid visa.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking with India Today,&nbsp;Nasrullah denied the marriage reports and said, "No, these are all false rumours being spread. Our marriage did not take place."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We appeared before the court because we were in danger and went before the court to request security. The government has also provided us with the security of 50 police officers because Anju is a foreigner," he said adding, "Anju is a foreign national in Pakistan. Her life is in danger. She could be attacked at any time. There are different kinds of people here. We want to protect her, which is why we appeared before the court."</p>

<p>He refuted the authenticity of the marriage certificate and said these are false rumours being spread. "Anju is my best friend," he said of his relationship with the Indian woman.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Over the reports of Anju converting to Islam,&nbsp;Nasrullah said, "Wearing a burqa is the tradition here. We made Anju wear it so that no one could recognise her."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"She still practices the religion she did," he said adding, "She is my best friend. She came on a tourist visa. She wanted to see Pakistan."&nbsp;</p>

<p>When asked if he will marry Anju after her divorce, the Pakistani man said, "That's her decision. If she says so, then I will. But for now, she is going back to India."</p>

<p>Speaking in the same vein, Anju said, "Claims of Nasrullah and I getting married are false. There is a process through which I will come back to India, which is why I went there."</p>

<p>"Rumours are made up, but we did not get married," she said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per earlier reports by the PTI news agency, the marriage of Anju and Nasrullah was solemnised in the presence of his family members, police personnel, and lawyers at the district court in Dir Bala in Pakistan's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.</p>

<p>Malakand Division Deputy Inspector General Nasir Mehmood Satti&nbsp;confirmed the Nikah of Anju and Nasrullah, stating that Anju has been given the name Fatima following her conversion to Islam. After the wedding, Anju was provided police security as she was shifted to Nasrullah's home, according to previous reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"She traveled to Pakistan on a month-long visit visa and all her travel documents are valid and complete," Upper Dir District Police Officer (DPO) Mushtaq Khan said on Monday adding, "Anju has come to Pakistan from New Delhi for the sake of love and is living happily here."&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Sightseeing trip&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Before the alleged wedding, Anju and Nasrullah went on a sightseeing trip to the Lawari tunnel connecting Dir Upper District with Chitral District. In pictures from their trip, they were seen holding hands in a garden.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/strategic-trust-eroded-indian-nsa-ajit-doval-minces-no-words-in-talks-with-china-619212">‘Strategic trust eroded,’ Indian NSA Ajit Doval minces no words in talks with China</a></p>

<p>Anju shared a video expressing that she feels safe in Pakistan and requested the media not to harass her relatives and children.&nbsp;"I want to give this message to all that I have come here legally and with planning as it was not about two days that I came here all of a sudden, and I am safe here," she said in the video and added, "I request all the media persons not to harass my relatives and children."&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Legal travel to Pakistan</strong></h2>

<p>Anju had traveled legally from India to Pakistan via the Wagah-Attari border. A 30-day visa which is valid only for Upper Dir has been granted to Anju.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-banks-pressed-to-rectify-inaccurate-financial-statements-heres-why-619208">US banks pressed to rectify ‘inaccurate’ financial statements. Here's why</a></p>

<p>Earlier, the Pakistani groom Nasrullah&nbsp;provided an affidavit to local authorities stating that their friendship has no love angle, and Anju will return to India by August 20. The police confirmed that Anju's travel documents were in order, and she was allowed to stay with Nasrullah, who was instructed to look after her.</p>

<h2><strong>Anju's family&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Anju's husband Arvind, back in Rajasthan, told a media outlet that Anju had left home on the pretext of going to Jaipur but later they found out she was in Pakistan. He remained hopeful that she would return home.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A pretty girl Anju from india in pakistan and says Pakistan is Beautiful Country ❤ <a href="https://t.co/zre8a6G2LM">pic.twitter.com/zre8a6G2LM</a></p>
— Beautiful Pakistan🇵🇰 ( Holiday Travels Pakistan) (@LandofPakistan) <a href="https://twitter.com/LandofPakistan/status/1683799032835997697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p><strong>Watch | UK: Boris Johnson's former aide gets life peerage; controversy over 'young' peers&nbsp;</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-boris-johnsons-former-aide-gets-life-peerage-controversy-over-young-peers-world-news-wion-619237/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Anju's situation is reminiscent of the case of Seema Ghulam Haider, a Pakistani woman who had sneaked into India and married Sachin Meena, whom she met while playing PUBG in 2019. Seema and Sachin live together in the Rabupura area of Greater Noida near Delhi, according to the Uttar Pradesh Police.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


After reports of a 34-year-old married Indian woman and a mother of two, named Anju getting married to her 29 years old Pakistani Facebook friend Nasrullah, the duo denied the claims reports India Today media portal.

After reports of a 34-year-old married Indian woman and a mother of two, named Anju getting married to her 29 years old Pakistani Facebook friend Nasrullah, the duo denied the claims reports India Today media portal. The denial of the came after Pakistani police confirmed that both tied the knot in a local court of a district and sessions judge after Anju converted to Islam. Notably, Anju travelled to Pakistan legally on a valid visa. Speaking with India Today, Nasrullah denied the marriage reports and said, "No, these are all false rumours being spread. Our marriage did not take place." "We appeared before the court because we were in danger and went before the court to request security. The government has also provided us with the security of 50 police officers because Anju is a foreigner," he said adding, "Anju is a foreign national in Pakistan. Her life is in danger. She could be attacked at any time. There are different kinds of people here. We want to protect her, which is why we appeared before the court." He refuted the authenticity of the marriage certificate and said these are false rumours being spread. "Anju is my best friend," he said of his relationship with the Indian woman. Over the reports of Anju converting to Islam, Nasrullah said, "Wearing a burqa is the tradition here. We made Anju wear it so that no one could recognise her." "She still practices the religion she did," he said adding, "She is my best friend. She came on a tourist visa. She wanted to see Pakistan." When asked if he will marry Anju after her divorce, the Pakistani man said, "That's her decision. If she says so, then I will. But for now, she is going back to India." Speaking in the same vein, Anju said, "Claims of Nasrullah and I getting married are false. There is a process through which I will come back to India, which is why I went there." "Rumours are made up, but we did not get married," she said. As per earlier reports by the PTI news agency, the marriage of Anju and Nasrullah was solemnised in the presence of his family members, police personnel, and lawyers at the district court in Dir Bala in Pakistan's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. Malakand Division Deputy Inspector General Nasir Mehmood Satti confirmed the Nikah of Anju and Nasrullah, stating that Anju has been given the name Fatima following her conversion to Islam. After the wedding, Anju was provided police security as she was shifted to Nasrullah's home, according to previous reports. "She traveled to Pakistan on a month-long visit visa and all her travel documents are valid and complete," Upper Dir District Police Officer (DPO) Mushtaq Khan said on Monday adding, "Anju has come to Pakistan from New Delhi for the sake of love and is living happily here." Sightseeing trip Before the alleged wedding, Anju and Nasrullah went on a sightseeing trip to the Lawari tunnel connecting Dir Upper District with Chitral District. In pictures from their trip, they were seen holding hands in a garden. Also Read | ‘Strategic trust eroded,’ Indian NSA Ajit Doval minces no words in talks with China Anju shared a video expressing that she feels safe in Pakistan and requested the media not to harass her relatives and children. "I want to give this message to all that I have come here legally and with planning as it was not about two days that I came here all of a sudden, and I am safe here," she said in the video and added, "I request all the media persons not to harass my relatives and children." Legal travel to Pakistan Anju had traveled legally from India to Pakistan via the Wagah-Attari border. A 30-day visa which is valid only for Upper Dir has been granted to Anju. Also Read | US banks pressed to rectify ‘inaccurate’ financial statements. Here's why Earlier, the Pakistani groom Nasrullah provided an affidavit to local authorities stating that their friendship has no love angle, and Anju will return to India by August 20. The police confirmed that Anju's travel documents were in order, and she was allowed to stay with Nasrullah, who was instructed to look after her. Anju's family Anju's husband Arvind, back in Rajasthan, told a media outlet that Anju had left home on the pretext of going to Jaipur but later they found out she was in Pakistan. He remained hopeful that she would return home. A pretty girl Anju from india in pakistan and says Pakistan is Beautiful Country ❤ pic.twitter.com/zre8a6G2LM — Beautiful Pakistan🇵🇰 ( Holiday Travels Pakistan) (@LandofPakistan) July 25, 2023 × Watch | UK: Boris Johnson's former aide gets life peerage; controversy over 'young' peers × Anju's situation is reminiscent of the case of Seema Ghulam Haider, a Pakistani woman who had sneaked into India and married Sachin Meena, whom she met while playing PUBG in 2019. Seema and Sachin live together in the Rabupura area of Greater Noida near Delhi, according to the Uttar Pradesh Police. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Indian woman, Pakistani Facebook friend deny claims of getting married

<p>Shovelling sand onto a truck in&nbsp;Pakistan-occupied Kashmir&nbsp;(PoK) valley, says a man, who shares only his surname Butt, and adds that he ended his treacherous bid for a better life when an overloaded fishing trawler sank off the coast of Greece last month.</p>

<p>Up to 350 Pakistanis were believed to be among the 600 who drowned, including 24 from Butt's hometown of Khuiratta in the lush PoK valley.</p>

<p>"Looking back, I realise that the risk I took was not worth it," Butt told AFP.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/hindu-women-in-pakistans-sindh-province-forced-to-marry-their-abductors-618275">Hindu women in Pakistan's Sindh province forced to marry their abductors</a></strong></p>

<p>Butt is one of several men from Khuiratta who told AFP the disaster prompted them to give up on the journey after reaching Libya.</p>

<p>"Life is defined by the quality time you spend with your children and spouse, not the amount of money you possess," he said.</p>

<p>Tens of thousands of young men have handed over family fortunes to agents who smuggle them to Europe, from where remittances -- even more valuable since Pakistan's economy slumped into crisis last year -- can be wired home.</p>

<p>Butt sought help from friends and family, and his wife sold her wedding jewellery to collect 2.2 million rupees (around $7,500) he needed to pay the human traffickers organising the trip.</p>

<p>The first legs&nbsp;of his journey were uneventful -- commercial flights to Dubai and Egypt, then overland to Libya, where his ordeal really started.</p>

<p>He spent two months in a makeshift shanty camp with 600 other migrants, waiting for the day they would be put on a cargo ship to make the journey across the Mediterranean.</p>

<h2>The anguish of families</h2>

<p>Instead, they were crowded onto a rickety fishing boat and spent eight days floundering in international waters, where they were first fired on, then rammed, by a Libyan naval vessel, Butt said.</p>

<p>They only stayed afloat because the navy ship abandoned them when a storm struck, he added -- but it returned days later to tow them back to port, where they were thrown in jail.</p>

<p>"They gave us the minimal amount of food to keep us alive... a plate of macaroni or boiled rice would be shared among five people," Butt said.</p>

<p>"They were brutal people."</p>

<p>While he was in jail, news reached his hometown of the migrant boat sinking off Greece, causing heartbreak and distress.</p>

<p>"I can't explain the pain and anguish I went through for a week," Butt's wife Mehwish Matloob told AFP.</p>

<p>"I felt as though my entire world had crumbled before me," the 31-year-old said, clutching a shawl.</p>

<p>Butt finally got out of jail and was able to contact his family to tell them he was alive.</p>

<p>His mother, 76-year-old Razia Latif, says she now regrets the danger he endured.</p>

<p>"We thought that others were making it to Europe, so why not send him too," she said.</p>

<p>"We would have preferred begging had we known it was that difficult."</p>

<h2>'Greed' and risk</h2>

<p>The International Organization for Migration has declared the Mediterranean passage the world's most perilous migration route.</p>

<p>Around 1,728 migrants have gone missing there this year alone -- surpassing the 1,417 disappearances recorded in 2022.</p>

<p>But families that do get one or more of their young men abroad can prosper from the money sent back.</p>

<p>The noticeable disparity between families with relatives in Europe and those without is causing envy, said Zafar Iqbal Ghazi of Kashmir's Human Rights Forum group.</p>

<p>"If someone has a single-storey home, right next to it you will find a three-storey home, and bigger mansions, and so on," he said.</p>

<p>And the promise of untold riches abroad attracts those even well off by local standards.</p>

<p>Hamza Bhatti was earning 200,000 rupees a month (around $700) as a driver in Saudi Arabia -- enough to comfortably support his wife and their eight-month-old son -- but he still saw greener pastures in Europe.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I believed that life in Europe would be more vibrant and colourful compared to my experience in Saudi Arabia," the 29-year-old told AFP.</p>

<p>Bhatti was jailed after his boat was returned to port by Libyan authorities and he found himself alongside Butt as news of the sinking broke.</p>

<p>"It was my greed that took me to the brink of death," he said.</p>

<h2>Smuggling agents arrested</h2>

<p>Ghazi said more than 175 youngsters from Khuiratta alone left illegally for Europe last year, and he believes any recent pause after the boat incident in Greece will only be temporary.</p>

<p>Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said 69 smuggling agents had been arrested since a crackdown was launched last month, but prosecutions will be difficult.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/four-boats-with-over-200-migrants-rescued-in-spains-canary-islands-in-a-day-607534">Five boats with over 300 migrants rescued near Spain’s Canary Islands in a day</a></strong></p>

<p>"The challenge lies in the fact that most of these youngsters possess valid visas for Dubai, which they use as a starting point to reach Libya," one FIA official said, speaking anonymously to AFP.</p>

<p>"This is not a new phenomenon, and it will not end after the Greece boat tragedy."</p>

<p>European Union lawmakers have urged Brussels to provide support to member states to strengthen their capacity to carry out sea rescues, but attitudes towards migrants are hardening across Europe, with Greece steadily slashing benefits for asylum seekers.</p>

<p>Mehwish says her husband Butt will never again attempt the journey -- even though traffickers refunded part of his payment in the hope they wouldn't be reported.</p>

<p>"I don't regret losing the gold, and I am content to live in poverty as long as he is with me," she said.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Shovelling sand onto a truck in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) valley, says a man, who shares only his surname Butt, and adds that he ended his treacherous bid for a better life when an overloaded fishing trawler sank off the coast of Greece last month.

Shovelling sand onto a truck in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) valley, says a man, who shares only his surname Butt, and adds that he ended his treacherous bid for a better life when an overloaded fishing trawler sank off the coast of Greece last month. Up to 350 Pakistanis were believed to be among the 600 who drowned, including 24 from Butt's hometown of Khuiratta in the lush PoK valley. "Looking back, I realise that the risk I took was not worth it," Butt told AFP. Also read | Hindu women in Pakistan's Sindh province forced to marry their abductors Butt is one of several men from Khuiratta who told AFP the disaster prompted them to give up on the journey after reaching Libya. "Life is defined by the quality time you spend with your children and spouse, not the amount of money you possess," he said. Tens of thousands of young men have handed over family fortunes to agents who smuggle them to Europe, from where remittances -- even more valuable since Pakistan's economy slumped into crisis last year -- can be wired home. Butt sought help from friends and family, and his wife sold her wedding jewellery to collect 2.2 million rupees (around $7,500) he needed to pay the human traffickers organising the trip. The first legs of his journey were uneventful -- commercial flights to Dubai and Egypt, then overland to Libya, where his ordeal really started. He spent two months in a makeshift shanty camp with 600 other migrants, waiting for the day they would be put on a cargo ship to make the journey across the Mediterranean. The anguish of families Instead, they were crowded onto a rickety fishing boat and spent eight days floundering in international waters, where they were first fired on, then rammed, by a Libyan naval vessel, Butt said. They only stayed afloat because the navy ship abandoned them when a storm struck, he added -- but it returned days later to tow them back to port, where they were thrown in jail. "They gave us the minimal amount of food to keep us alive... a plate of macaroni or boiled rice would be shared among five people," Butt said. "They were brutal people." While he was in jail, news reached his hometown of the migrant boat sinking off Greece, causing heartbreak and distress. "I can't explain the pain and anguish I went through for a week," Butt's wife Mehwish Matloob told AFP. "I felt as though my entire world had crumbled before me," the 31-year-old said, clutching a shawl. Butt finally got out of jail and was able to contact his family to tell them he was alive. His mother, 76-year-old Razia Latif, says she now regrets the danger he endured. "We thought that others were making it to Europe, so why not send him too," she said. "We would have preferred begging had we known it was that difficult." 'Greed' and risk The International Organization for Migration has declared the Mediterranean passage the world's most perilous migration route. Around 1,728 migrants have gone missing there this year alone -- surpassing the 1,417 disappearances recorded in 2022. But families that do get one or more of their young men abroad can prosper from the money sent back. The noticeable disparity between families with relatives in Europe and those without is causing envy, said Zafar Iqbal Ghazi of Kashmir's Human Rights Forum group. "If someone has a single-storey home, right next to it you will find a three-storey home, and bigger mansions, and so on," he said. And the promise of untold riches abroad attracts those even well off by local standards. Hamza Bhatti was earning 200,000 rupees a month (around $700) as a driver in Saudi Arabia -- enough to comfortably support his wife and their eight-month-old son -- but he still saw greener pastures in Europe. "I believed that life in Europe would be more vibrant and colourful compared to my experience in Saudi Arabia," the 29-year-old told AFP. Bhatti was jailed after his boat was returned to port by Libyan authorities and he found himself alongside Butt as news of the sinking broke. "It was my greed that took me to the brink of death," he said. Smuggling agents arrested Ghazi said more than 175 youngsters from Khuiratta alone left illegally for Europe last year, and he believes any recent pause after the boat incident in Greece will only be temporary. Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said 69 smuggling agents had been arrested since a crackdown was launched last month, but prosecutions will be difficult. Also read | Five boats with over 300 migrants rescued near Spain’s Canary Islands in a day "The challenge lies in the fact that most of these youngsters possess valid visas for Dubai, which they use as a starting point to reach Libya," one FIA official said, speaking anonymously to AFP. "This is not a new phenomenon, and it will not end after the Greece boat tragedy." European Union lawmakers have urged Brussels to provide support to member states to strengthen their capacity to carry out sea rescues, but attitudes towards migrants are hardening across Europe, with Greece steadily slashing benefits for asylum seekers. Mehwish says her husband Butt will never again attempt the journey -- even though traffickers refunded part of his payment in the hope they wouldn't be reported. "I don't regret losing the gold, and I am content to live in poverty as long as he is with me," she said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Pakistani migrants perished in Greece boat tragedy, survivors abandoned journey to Europe

In the first six months of 2023, a record 800,000 Pakistanis left the country. What's more, worrying for Pakistan is that at least 100,000 of them are highly trained professionals. They include doctors, nurses, engineers, information technology (it) experts, and accountants. Emigration from Pakistan is not a new phenomenon. Last year, about 7,65,000 people left Pakistan. The 2022 figure was three times the figure of 2021.

Record exodus from Pakistan

The country's Election Commission has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in a contempt case, it has directed Islamabad police to arrest and bring him before the Election Commission on Tuesday at 10 AM.

Pakistan: Imran Khan faces heat from Pakistan Election Commission, gets non-bailable warrant | WION

Moving on from India to neighbouring countries of Pakistan and Afghanistan, where monsoon rainfall continues to cause problems. The torrential rains have caused flooding, landslides leading to loss of lives and damage to infrastructure. In Pakistan at least 133 people have died and 215 have been injured due to landslides and heavy rains. Heavy rainfall & thunderstorms wreaked havoc, causing damage to dozens of houses in the region.

Moonsoon rainfall wreaks havoc in Pakistan

<p>An unidentified man threw a water bottle at Imran Khan in an incident on Monday at the district and sessions court in Islamabad where the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader appeared for trial proceedings in relation to the Toshakhana case, media reports said.&nbsp;The former prime minister was not injured during the incident.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It reportedly happened due to poor security arrangements as Imran Khan was making his way to the Islamabad district court. As Imran Khan walked into the court located on a lower floor, he was surrounded and protected by bulletproof shields covering him from all sides, including the top.&nbsp;Despite this security measure, a bottle was thrown at him from above.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/woman-pees-on-floor-of-plane-alleges-airline-of-not-letting-her-use-washroom-618861">Woman pees on floor of plane, alleges airline did not let her use washroom</a></p>

<p>Khan and his legal team have also previously expressed concerns about his safety.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The hearing for the Toshakhana case at the district court was presided over by Judge Humayun Dilawar. After marking his attendance, Judge Dilawar allowed Imran Khan to leave the proceedings.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Inadequate poor security measures in courtyard.<br />
<br />
Someone threw water bottle on Imran Khan which missed him.<br />
<br />
His numerous visits in almost 200 fabricated cases makes him vulnerable to any terrorist attack.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%B4%DB%81%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A2%D9%81%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%AF%DB%8C_%DA%A9%DB%8C_%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%86_%DA%A9%D9%88%D8%AE%D8%B7%D8%B1%DB%81?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#شہریارآفریدی_کی_جان_کوخطرہ</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AF_%D8%A2%D9%BE%D8%B4%D9%86_%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86_%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%86?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#واحد_آپشن_عمران_خان</a><a href="https://t.co/oE6rW70LqL">pic.twitter.com/oE6rW70LqL</a></p>
— Dr. Sadaf 🌍 (@PakistannFirst) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakistannFirst/status/1683378219649581058?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2><strong>Toshakhana case trial</strong></h2>

<p>Just two days before this incident, a trial court in Islamabad had granted a one-day exemption to Imran Khan from appearing in the Toshakhana case.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-justice-minister-resigns-after-crashing-car-under-alcohols-influence-618882">New Zealand justice minister resigns after crashing car under alcohol's influence</a></p>

<p>The case was filed against him by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and involved allegations of concealing details about state gifts. It is related to the allegations levelled by the ruling government that Khan failed to share details of the gifts he retained from the Toshaskhana during his tenure as prime minister.</p>

<p>In March, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) launched an investigation against Khan in the case.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Non-bailable arrest warrant&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>On Monday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Imran Khan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The warrant was directed to the Islamabad police chief, instructing them to arrest Imran Khan and present him before the ECP on the following day, Tuesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This action was taken in connection with a contempt case against him. The ECP had previously ordered the release of the warrant on July 11 after Imran Khan failed to appear before the commission.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Israelis protest ahead of key parliament vote | Kiri Allan quits cabinet</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israelis-protest-ahead-of-key-parliament-vote-kiri-allan-quits-cabinet-618884/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The contempt proceedings were initiated by the ECP last year against Imran Khan, along with PTI party leader Asad Umar and former information minister Fawad Chaudhry. The accusations were related to their alleged use of "intemperate" language against the chief election commissioner and the electoral watchdog.</p>

<p>Now, with the non-bailable arrest warrant issued, the ECP is seeking to enforce its order and ensure Imran Khan's appearance in the contempt case.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


An unidentified man threw a water bottle at Imran Khan in an incident on Monday at the district and sessions court in Islamabad where the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader appeared for trial proceedings in relation to the Toshakhana case, media reports said.

An unidentified man threw a water bottle at Imran Khan in an incident on Monday at the district and sessions court in Islamabad where the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader appeared for trial proceedings in relation to the Toshakhana case, media reports said. The former prime minister was not injured during the incident. It reportedly happened due to poor security arrangements as Imran Khan was making his way to the Islamabad district court. As Imran Khan walked into the court located on a lower floor, he was surrounded and protected by bulletproof shields covering him from all sides, including the top. Despite this security measure, a bottle was thrown at him from above. Also Read | Woman pees on floor of plane, alleges airline did not let her use washroom Khan and his legal team have also previously expressed concerns about his safety. The hearing for the Toshakhana case at the district court was presided over by Judge Humayun Dilawar. After marking his attendance, Judge Dilawar allowed Imran Khan to leave the proceedings. Inadequate poor security measures in courtyard. Someone threw water bottle on Imran Khan which missed him. His numerous visits in almost 200 fabricated cases makes him vulnerable to any terrorist attack.#شہریارآفریدی_کی_جان_کوخطرہ#واحد_آپشن_عمران_خانpic.twitter.com/oE6rW70LqL — Dr. Sadaf 🌍 (@PakistannFirst) July 24, 2023 × Toshakhana case trial Just two days before this incident, a trial court in Islamabad had granted a one-day exemption to Imran Khan from appearing in the Toshakhana case. Also Read | New Zealand justice minister resigns after crashing car under alcohol's influence The case was filed against him by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and involved allegations of concealing details about state gifts. It is related to the allegations levelled by the ruling government that Khan failed to share details of the gifts he retained from the Toshaskhana during his tenure as prime minister. In March, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) launched an investigation against Khan in the case. Non-bailable arrest warrant On Monday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Imran Khan. The warrant was directed to the Islamabad police chief, instructing them to arrest Imran Khan and present him before the ECP on the following day, Tuesday. This action was taken in connection with a contempt case against him. The ECP had previously ordered the release of the warrant on July 11 after Imran Khan failed to appear before the commission. Watch | Israelis protest ahead of key parliament vote | Kiri Allan quits cabinet × The contempt proceedings were initiated by the ECP last year against Imran Khan, along with PTI party leader Asad Umar and former information minister Fawad Chaudhry. The accusations were related to their alleged use of "intemperate" language against the chief election commissioner and the electoral watchdog. Now, with the non-bailable arrest warrant issued, the ECP is seeking to enforce its order and ensure Imran Khan's appearance in the contempt case. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

WATCH | Unidentified man throws water bottle at Pakistan's ex-PM Imran Khan

<p>Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan's bail in a case related to the murder of a lawyer in Quetta was extended until August 9.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A three-judge bench of the Pakistan Supreme Court had asked Khan to surrender before the court before seeking any interim relief.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The case against Khan was lodged by the deceased lawyer's stepson.</p>

<p>Abdul Raazaq Shar, a lawyer who had filed a petition against Khan for illegally dissolving Pakistan's National Assembly, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Balochistan's Quetta on June 6.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's aide Attaullah Tarar had alleged that the lawyer was killed at Khan's behest. Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson Raoof Hassan had instead targeted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the murder.</p>

<p>In his petition, the cricketer-turned-politician had sought an appeal Balochistan High Court's decision to quash the FIR against him in the lawyer's murder case.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Khan's counsel had filed an application appealing the Supreme Court to hear the matter urgently since he was expecting coercive action on part of the authorities."</p>

<p>Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah had on Thursday warned that the former Pakistan PM might be arrested if he fails to cooperate with the investigation into the leaking of national secrets, in a newly propped up issue dubbed as the ‘cipher case'.</p>

<p>Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in a notice to Khan has asked him to appear before the bureau on July 25 in connection with the cipher probe.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"If he does not cooperate during the inquiry stage, he could face possible arrest. Following the investigation, the FIA will make recommendations based on evidence regarding those who are complicit and against whom criminal cases should be filed,” Sanaullah said.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan's bail in a case related to the murder of a lawyer in Quetta was extended until August 9. A three-judge bench of the Pakistan Supreme Court had asked Khan to surrender before the court before seeking any interim relief.

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan's bail in a case related to the murder of a lawyer in Quetta was extended until August 9. A three-judge bench of the Pakistan Supreme Court had asked Khan to surrender before the court before seeking any interim relief. The case against Khan was lodged by the deceased lawyer's stepson. Abdul Raazaq Shar, a lawyer who had filed a petition against Khan for illegally dissolving Pakistan's National Assembly, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Balochistan's Quetta on June 6. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's aide Attaullah Tarar had alleged that the lawyer was killed at Khan's behest. Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson Raoof Hassan had instead targeted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the murder. In his petition, the cricketer-turned-politician had sought an appeal Balochistan High Court's decision to quash the FIR against him in the lawyer's murder case. Khan's counsel had filed an application appealing the Supreme Court to hear the matter urgently since he was expecting coercive action on part of the authorities." Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah had on Thursday warned that the former Pakistan PM might be arrested if he fails to cooperate with the investigation into the leaking of national secrets, in a newly propped up issue dubbed as the ‘cipher case'. Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in a notice to Khan has asked him to appear before the bureau on July 25 in connection with the cipher probe. "If he does not cooperate during the inquiry stage, he could face possible arrest. Following the investigation, the FIA will make recommendations based on evidence regarding those who are complicit and against whom criminal cases should be filed,” Sanaullah said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Pakistan: Former PM Imran Khan avoids arrest in Quetta lawyer's murder case

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party is considering proposing the name of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar as the caretaker prime minister of the cash-strapped country once the term of the current National Assembly ends next month, a media report said on Sunday.

PPP: Not informed about Dar being pitched as interim PM | Pakistan

It's a busy day for Imran Khan as he has back-to-back appearances in two cases as Pakistan's former Prime Minister pushes for bail and hances of arrest cannot be ruled out. Imran Khan began his day at the Supreme Court's premises which has summoned him in the Quetta murder case.

Quetta Lawyer Murder Case: Imran Khan gets relief from top court | Pakistan

pakistan-0

Pakistan, News on Pakistan, stories on Pakistan, articles on Pakistan, Pakistan stories at Wion, Pakistan news, Pakistan latest news

pakistan 0