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Pakistan lifts prison visit ban at Adiala after pushback from Imran Khan’s legal team

Pakistan lifts prison visit ban at Adiala after pushback from Imran Khan’s legal team
Police personnel stand outside the entrance of Adiala jail during the hearing of jailed former Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan, in Rawalpindi on January 30, 2024. (AFP/File)
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Updated 31 min 48 sec ago
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Pakistan lifts prison visit ban at Adiala after pushback from Imran Khan’s legal team

Pakistan lifts prison visit ban at Adiala after pushback from Imran Khan’s legal team
  • Restriction was imposed by Punjab provincial administration on October 4, citing security reasons
  • Khan’s lawyers moved the court on Thursday, which ordered authorities to facilitate their meeting
Updated 31 min 48 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan
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ISLAMABAD: The government has lifted a temporary restriction on prisoner visits at Central Jail Rawalpindi, commonly known as Adiala Prison, following resistance from the legal team defending former prime minister Imran Khan, who is incarcerated there, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party confirmed on Saturday.
The restriction was imposed by the Punjab provincial administration on October 4, citing security concerns ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in the federal capital, which hosted top government officials from several regional states on October 15 and 16.
Due to the trust deficit between the government and opposition, the restriction, which applied to all inmates, raised concerns about the ex-premier’s health. PTI leaders threatened to march on Islamabad unless Khan’s medical team and lawyers were granted access to him in prison.
PTI lawyers also moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday, prompting a judge to order the government to facilitate a meeting between Khan and his legal team, which took place later that day.
“Jail authorities have lifted a ban on meeting with prisoners in Adiala Prison, Rawalpindi,” the party said in a brief message to the media. “Ban was imposed on Oct 4, citing security concerns and lifted today, Oct 26.”
“IHC judge, Justice Sardar Ijaz had ordered to submit concrete evidence on possible security concerns during the hearing of a petition challenging ban on meetings with the Former Prime Minister Imran Khan,” it added. “So far, the authorities have not given a reply. However, the ban is now lifted and hopefully schedule of meeting with Imran Khan will resume.”
Khan’s party members had a brief meeting with him while the restriction was in place to discuss the 26th Constitutional Amendment, which the government passed earlier this week on Monday.
Pakistani authorities also conducted drills at the prison facility recently to prepare for potential militant attacks.

Topics: adiala jail Imran Khan

Police say eight killed in western Pakistan suicide bombing

Police say eight killed in western Pakistan suicide bombing
Updated 26 October 2024
AFP
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Police say eight killed in western Pakistan suicide bombing

Police say eight killed in western Pakistan suicide bombing
  • Incident happed near the town of Mir Ali in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province
  • An official says among the five injured people, three are in critical condition
Updated 26 October 2024
AFP

PESHAWAR: A suicide bomber detonated at a checkpoint in western Pakistan on Saturday, killing eight people and wounding five more, officials said.
The bomber set off the blast from the back of a motorbike rickshaw near the town of Mir Ali in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a local police officer told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Four police officers were killed alongside two members of a state paramilitary force and two civilians in the attack near the border with Afghanistan, he said.
Pakistan has seen an increase in militancy since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021, with Islamabad claiming hostile groups are now using the neighboring country for shelter.
“Among the five injured personnel, the condition of three is critical, and they have been transferred to a local military hospital,” the police officer said.
A local government official who also did not want to be named confirmed the same toll of dead and wounded.
The attack was claimed by a little-known militant group calling itself “Aswad ul-Harb.”
Another checkpost near the Afghan border was raided this week by the Pakistani Taliban, killing 10 police officers.
Last year, the country saw more suicide attacks than any year since 2014, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.
There were 29 suicide attacks registered, killing 329 people in Pakistan’s deadliest year in a decade.

Topics: suicide bombing Mir Ali

Karachi lawyers march to protest parliament’s ‘unconstitutional’ 26th amendment

Karachi lawyers march to protest parliament’s ‘unconstitutional’ 26th amendment
Updated 26 October 2024
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Karachi lawyers march to protest parliament’s ‘unconstitutional’ 26th amendment

Karachi lawyers march to protest parliament’s ‘unconstitutional’ 26th amendment
  • Karachi Bar Association announces plans to file a petition in the Supreme Court against the new legislation
  • Lawyers deny reports of internal fissures as only a few dozen members of legal fraternity gather for protest
Updated 26 October 2024
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Lawyers in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi on Saturday marched in protest against what they described as an “unconstitutional” amendment passed by parliament earlier this week to introduce extensive judicial reforms, announcing their plan to challenge it in the Supreme Court.
Pakistan’s parliament narrowly approved the 26th Constitutional Amendment on Monday, granting lawmakers the authority to nominate the Chief Justice of Pakistan, among other changes to the Supreme Court’s structure and functioning.
The controversial amendment allowed the government to bypass the senior-most judge, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, in favor of appointing Justice Yahya Afridi as the country’s top judge, replacing former Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa. This decision was made by a 12-member parliamentary committee established under the new amendment.
As Afridi took oath as the 30th Chief Justice of Pakistan at a ceremony at the President’s House in Islamabad on Saturday, lawyers rallied under the banner of the Karachi Bar Association for a demonstration, although many members of the legal fraternity were absent from the protest.
“If anyone chosen by parliament or the [security] establishment is in power [at the top court], then justice will not be served,” Aamir Nawaz Warraich, the association’s president, told Arab News, asserting that the protest would gain momentum as lawyers prepared to challenge the amendment in court.
“We will definitely challenge the amendment in the Supreme Court,” he added.
Among the few dozen protesters, a lawyer who identified herself only as Advocate Tania, denied reports of internal fissures among the lawyers, explaining that many of them were absent due to their involvement in election campaigns for legal bodies.
“We stand against everything that has been done to the constitution,” she said. “We will not accept the 26th amendment under any circumstances.”
Zubair Ahmed Abro, Vice President of the Sindh High Court Bar Association, argued that parliament had overstepped its authority.
“Our leadership at the national level, as well as the Karachi Bar Association, who are leading this march and struggle, have clearly stated that the 26th amendment is unconstitutional,” he said.
“Lawmakers cannot change the basic structure of the constitution,” he continued. “In this way, they have attempted to curtail the independence of the judiciary.”
Abro hinted at larger rallies in Karachi and other parts of Pakistan in the coming days.
“We will not tolerate any attempt to interfere in the independence of the judiciary,” he added.

Topics: Karachi lawyers

Stokes says Pakistan spin duo just too good after series defeat

Stokes says Pakistan spin duo just too good after series defeat
Updated 26 October 2024
AFP
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Stokes says Pakistan spin duo just too good after series defeat

Stokes says Pakistan spin duo just too good after series defeat
  • The hosts sealed a nine-wicket win in the third Test in Rawalpindi with Noman taking 6-42 and Sajid 4-69
  • The pair shared 39 wickets in last two Tests to spur Pakistan’s revival from an innings defeat in the first Test
Updated 26 October 2024
AFP

RAWALPINDI: Captain Ben Stokes admitted that Noman Ali and Sajid Khan were too good for his England team after the spin duo propelled Pakistan to a series victory on Saturday.
The hosts sealed a nine-wicket win in the third Test in Rawalpindi with Noman taking 6-42 and Sajid 4-69 in the second innings as England were bowled out for just 112.
The irrepressible pair shared 39 wickets in the last two Tests to spur Pakistan’s revival from an innings defeat in the first match.
“You’ve got to hold your hands up to say that those two in particular were obviously too good for our batting line-up in those last two games,” Stokes said.
Noman and Sajid both came into the side following Pakistan’s heavy defeat in the first Test in Multan, their inclusion proving pivotal in the hosts’ 2-1 series triumph.
“Credit to Noman and Sajid, the way in which they bowled in the second Test match and in this game, you know it was very good and challenging,” said Stokes.
Stokes said the series defeat was all the more disappointing with England having whitewashed Pakistan 3-0 away two years ago.
“Losing games for England hurts so it’s disappointing,” said Stokes, who missed the first Test in Multan with injury and failed to find form with the bat on his return.
The talismanic Stokes has been central to England’s attacking philosophy, which saw records tumble in the victory in the first Multan Test.
But he said consistency had been an issue since.
“We need to do things for longer,” said Stokes, whose team next tours New Zealand for a three-Test series in late November.
“As I said, we did good things in very small amounts of times at certain points throughout the second game and this game.
“But when you don’t sustain that, you know you’re always going to start falling away.”

Topics: Ben Stokes

Pakistan condemns Israeli strikes on Iran, demands UN action

Pakistan condemns Israeli strikes on Iran, demands UN action
Updated 26 October 2024
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Pakistan condemns Israeli strikes on Iran, demands UN action

Pakistan condemns Israeli strikes on Iran, demands UN action
  • Israel carried out strikes against Iran early Saturday, saying it was responding to this month’s missile attacks
  • Air defense systems in Tehran could be seen shooting down projectiles over the east of the city amid Israeli strikes
Updated 26 October 2024
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office on Saturday condemned Israeli military strikes on Iran, describing them as a violation of the United Nations (UN) charter and the international law.
Israel carried out strikes against Iran early Saturday, saying it was responding to missile attacks conducted by Tehran earlier in the month.
Air defense systems in Tehran could be seen shooting down projectiles over the east of the city, prompting authorities to shut down Iranian air space.
Pakistan’s foreign office said the strikes undermined the path to regional peace and stability, and constituted a “dangerous escalation” in an already volatile region. 
“Israel bears full responsibility for the current cycle of escalation and expansion of the conflict,” it said in a statement. 
“We call on the UN Security Council to play its role for the maintenance of international peace and security, and to take immediate steps to bring an end to Israeli recklessness in the region and its criminal behavior.”

Iranians walk next to an anti-Israel billboard on a street after several explosions were heard, in Tehran on October 26, 2024. (REUTERS)

Since the deadliest attack in its history on October 7, 2023, Israel has been fighting Hamas in Gaza, and since late last month, it has been at war with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Both Hezbollah and Hamas are allies of Iran. Pakistan, a major ally of the United States, shares a long border with Iran.
Israel’s strikes on Iran did not include attacking Iranian nuclear facilities or oil fields, and focused on military targets, NBC News and ABC News reported, citing an Israeli official.
The Iranians confirmed that military sites in the provinces of Ilam, Khuzestan and Tehran had been struck. Iran’s state TV later said that operations at Tehran’s airports including Imam Khomeini International airport were “normal.”
In its statement, the Pakistani foreign office called on the international community to play its role for restoring peace and security in the region.

Topics: Iran-Israeli shadow war israeli air strikes War on Gaza Pakistan Iran Ties

Pakistan thrash England to win series after Noman, Sajid heroics

Pakistan thrash England to win series after Noman, Sajid heroics
Updated 26 October 2024
AFP
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Pakistan thrash England to win series after Noman, Sajid heroics

Pakistan thrash England to win series after Noman, Sajid heroics
  • Noman and Sajid knocked over all 10 England wickets to dismiss the visitors for 112 before Pakistan raced to victory before lunch on day three of third Test
  • Shan Masood hammered five boundaries in six balls, launching Shoaib Bashir over the ropes to complete a resounding victory, his first series win as captain
Updated 26 October 2024
AFP

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan sealed a memorable Test series win as they thrashed England by nine wickets on Saturday after Noman Ali and Sajid Khan delivered a spin masterclass.
Noman and Sajid knocked over all 10 England wickets to dismiss the visitors for 112 before Pakistan raced to victory in Rawalpindi before lunch on day three of the third Test.
Shan Masood hammered five boundaries in six balls, launching Shoaib Bashir over the ropes to complete a resounding victory, his first series triumph as captain.

Pakistan's Saud Shakeel hugs Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique after winning the Test series between England and Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on October 26, 2024. (REUTERS)

Noman finished with figures of 6-42 and Sajid 4-69 after England resumed the day on 24-3 but were dismissed in 37.2 overs for their lowest total in Pakistan.
England won the first Test by an innings and 47 runs while Pakistan took the second by 152 runs, both in Multan.
Pakistan lost opener Saim Ayub for eight but Masood’s six-ball 23 not out ended the match.

England's Zak Crawley with Harry Brook after the match against Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on October 26, 2024. (REUTERS)

The Pakistan captain had lost his previous two series in charge — 3-0 to Australia and 2-0 to Bangladesh — since being appointed last year.
Noman and Sajid were brought into the line-up after England destroyed the hosts in the first Test in Multan by an innings and 47 runs.
The duo have knocked over 39 wickets between them in the subsequent two Tests, turning what looked like an easy England series victory Pakistan’s way.
Joe Root top-scored with 33 while none of the other England batters could last long enough to stop Pakistan’s charge toward a first home series win since beating South Africa in February 2021.

England's Ben Stokes, second right, and teammates shake hand on the end of third test cricket match against Pakistan, in Rawalpindi on October 26, 2024. (AP)

England’s previous lowest total was 130 in Lahore in 1987.
England’s fate was sealed once Noman dismissed overnight batsman Harry Brook caught behind by Mohammad Rizwan for 26 and skipper Ben Stokes leg-before for three.
Stokes once again fell in bizarre fashion as he offered no stroke to a Noman delivery, expecting it to go down the leg side but it struck him in front of the stumps.

Pakistan's Shan Masood, second right, and Pakistan's Abdullah Shafique, left, are congratulated by teammates after winning the third Test cricket match against England, in Rawalpindi on October 26, 2024. (AP)

England skipper, who missed the first Test with a hamstring injury, managed just 53 runs in four innings.
Sajid made it 6-75, dismissing Jamie Smith who tried to hit him out of the ground only to miss the ball and lose his stumps for three.
Noman completed his sixth five-wicket haul when Root edged a sharp turning delivery to Rizwan, quashing all hopes of an England fightback.
Sajid dismissed Rehan Ahmed for seven while Noman wrapped up the innings with the wicket of Jack Leach, bowled for ten.

Topics: Pakistan vs England Rawalpindi Test sajid khan

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