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Two former chief ministers of India-held Kashmir have demanded an investigation into an alleged incident of Indian soldiers forcing Muslim worshippers in a mosque in the valley’s Pulwama area to chant Hindu slogans, the Indian media has reported. “Shocked to hear about army troops from 50 RR (Rashtriya Rifles) storming into a mosque at Pulwama and forcing Muslims inside to chant ‘Jai Shree Ram’. Such a move when [Home Minister] Amit Shah is here and that too ahead of yatra (a Hindu pilgrimage) is simply an act of provocation,” said former CM Mehbooba Mufti in reaction to the reports. She requested Indian Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, who recently took command of India’s Chinar Corps in the area, to “immediately set up a probe” into the reported incident. Similarly, former CM Omar Abdullah termed the reports “deeply distressing”. “It’s bad enough they entered but then forcing people to chant slogans like ‘Jai Shree Ram’ as reported by the locals there, is unacceptable,” he s...

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday summoned United States (US) Deputy Chief of Mission to Foreign Office (FO) and conveyed a demarche regarding the US-India Joint Statement issued after a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden, ARY News reported. “The US Deputy Chief of Mission was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) this evening and a demarche was made to him regarding the June 22 US-India Joint Statement,” the foreign office spokesperson said in a statement. The FO spokesperson noted that Pakistan’s concerns and disappointment at the unwarranted, one-sided and misleading references to it in the Joint Statement were conveyed to the US side. “It was stressed that the United States should refrain from issuing statements that may be construed as an encouragement of India’s baseless and politically motivated narrative against Pakistan,” it added. The statement concluded by saying that it was also emphasised that counter-terrorism co-operat...

LOWER DIR: Law enforcement agencies foiled a major terrorism bid in Lower Dir ahead of Eidul Azha and recovered five suicide vests, 19 remote-controlled bombs and hand grenades and three SMGs during the search operation, ARY News reported on Monday. Police, Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) conducted a successful search operation on the Malakand border. The LEAs recovered five suicide vests, 19 remote-controlled bombs and hand grenades and three SMGs from the suspects. Moreover, the officials also recovered 30 kg of high-explosive material, five walkie talkie, 16 SMG magazines and hundreds of rounds. During the search operation, the officials seized medicines, clothes, bags, chargers, mobile phones, food and other weaponry. DPO Ziauddin told the media that terrorists were planning to carry out a major terrorist activity on Eidul Azha which was foiled by the law enforcement agencies. A search operation is underway in the district to arrest the terroris...

ISLAMABAD: After former prime minister Nawaz Sharif arrived in Dubai on Saturday afternoon reportedly for “important” political engagements, PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday departed for the United Arab Emirates. As he left for the UAE on Saturday, Mr Sharif’s son Hussain Nawaz told reporters his father would be going to Dubai, and may travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the holy pilgrimage. Mr Sharif also spent the previous Eid with family in Saudi Arabia, where Maryam Nawaz and other family members joined him in the last days of Ramazan and over Eidul Fitr. According to Bilawal House, the former president flew to the UAE on Sunday. However, it did not confirm if Mr Zardari would meet Nawaz Sharif who was also in the Gulf state. However, as per media reports, it is likely that the PPP leader would call on Mr Sharif to discuss caretaker set-up and date for general elections as the tenure of the incumbent assembly is set to expire in August. Report claims former premier held ‘si...

LAHORE / QUETTA: Eight people lost their lives after they were struck by lightning in Punjab as many areas in the province received heavy rain with strong wind, on Sunday. The extreme weather also caused infrastructure and livestock losses in parts of Punjab and Balochistan. Deaths were reported in Narowal, Sialkot and Sheikhupura districts. According to a rescue official, five people were killed in Narowal district. “The lightning strikes occurred in four areas, including the villages of Ratia Khurd and Mengra, of Narowal district,” said Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hurmat Ali. In Changovali village, two people working in a field fell victim to lightning strikes. They were identified as Mohammad Siddique, 60, and Mohammad Naseer, 30. One Abdul Rehman was moved to hospital in serious condition. Downpours, hailstorm batter parts of Balochistan In a similar incident, 20-year-old Mohammad Bilal was killed in Kanogo village as were Mohammad Asad and Mohammad Saqlain in nearby areas. N...

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has challenged the order issued by the Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) regarding the meeting held for the appointment of the caretaker Punjab Chief Minister (CM), ARY News reported. The ECP challenged the PIC’s order in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) regarding the provision of meeting minutes to a citizen for the appointment of the caretaker Punjab CM. The IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq will hear the election commission’s petition today. In January, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had named Mohsin Naqvi as the caretaker Punjab Chief Minister (CM). The election commission had also notified the appointment of Mohsin Naqvi for the caretaker Punjab CM’s slot. The matter of the appointment of the Punjab caretaker chief minister had reached the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) after the parliamentary committee failed to reach a consensus. The chief election commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja had held the ke...

The top leaders of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, are expected to meet Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, citing sources, ARY News reported. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari are present in Dubai. Sources told ARY News that the PPP top leaders would meet Nawaz Sharif today, whereas, other PPP leaders have also been summoned to Dubai. It is being said that both coalition partners in the incumbent government would make an important decision regarding the future strategy and national politics during the Dubai meeting. READ: Nawaz Sharif’s return: PM Shehbaz forms legal team Asif Ali Zardari flew to Dubai on Sunday evening, whereas, Bilawal was already present there. Nawaz Sharif and PML-N chief organiser Maryam Nawaz had reached Dubai a day earlier and held a meeting with the members of the Dubai Royal family. PM Shehbaz Sharif is expected to return to Pakistan soon after concludi...