Pakistan

Taliban suspected to be behind Gilani's son's kidnapping

Lahore: The Punjabi Taliban is believed to be behind the kidnapping of former premier Yousuf Raza Gilani's son Ali Haider, officials said on Thursday. "A Punjabi Taliban group based in Mian Chanu, 80 km from Multan district, is believed to be involved in the kidnapping of Ali Haider Gilani," a source in Punjab Police said. Earlier in the day, gunmen kidnapped Ali Haider in Multan district, 350 km from Lahore,...  

J&K: Pak prisoners protest against Sanaullah's death

Jammu: Pakistani prisoners in high security Kot Bhalwal Jail in Jammu have gone on 'fast' protesting the death of Sanaullah Haq at a hospital in Chandigarh on Thursday. "Pakistani prisoners here (in the jail) have not taken food in afternoon...we are pursuing them," an officer of the state Prisons department told reporters. There are 22 Pakistani prisoners in Kot Bhalwal Jail. "They are upset over the death of Sanaullah and...  

Pak shares autopsy reports of Sarabjit, Chamel Singh

Thursday: Pakistan on Thursday shared the autopsy reports on two Indian prisoners - Sarabjit Singh and Chamel Singh. While the autopsy report on Chamel Singh did not define the cause of his death, the report on Sarabjit listed his cause of death as head injury caused by blunt weapon. Chamel had died in a Lahore jail under mysterious circumstances. His autopsy was conducted only two months after his death. The...  

A weak Parliament is being predicted in Pak: Ayesha Siddiqa

As Pakistan braces for the May 11 national elections, this will be the first time that a democratically elected government has completed its full term and elections are being held on time. So how are the odds stacked up? Can President Zardari's PPP beat the anti-incumbency wave? Or are Imran Khan's PTI and Nawaz Sharif's PML-N poised to put up a formidable fight? What are the main issues? Pakistani political...  

Indo-Pak joint commission on prisoners is much needed: Zohra Yusuf

The tragic deaths of Sarabjit Singh and Sanaullah Haq after they were attacked inside jail premises in Pakistan and India have highlighted the plight of hundreds of Indian and Pakistani prisoners lodged in jails across the border. Can a joint India-Pakistan mechanism help better the situation? Can the human rights organisations pressure the governments of both the countries to take note of this? Zohra Yusuf, Founder, Chairperson, Human Rights Commission...  

Imran won't be able to vote in polls: Pak doctors

Lahore: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan will not be able to vote in Saturday's historic general elections because of injuries sustained in a dramatic fall at an election rally, doctors treating him said on Thursday. Doctors at Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore, where Khan, 60, was admitted after he suffered fractured vertebrae and a broken rib on Tuesday, said he needs to stay in bed for some more time....  

Live: Plane with Sanaullah's body takes off for Pak

Chandigarh: 9.05 pm: Pakistani prisoners in high security Kot Bhalwal jail in Jammu have gone on 'fast' protesting against the death of Sanaullah Haq at a hospital in Chandigarh on Thursday. "Pakistani prisoners here (in the jail) have not taken food in afternoon... we are pursuing them," an officer of the state Prisons department said. 7:05 pm: The special plane with Sanaullah Haq's body takes off from Chandigarh for Pakistan....  

Pak ex-PM Gilani's son kidnapped from poll rally

Islamabad: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's son Ali Haidar was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen from a rally in Multan and his secretary killed on Thursday. The attack comes just two days ahead of elections in Pakistan that are scheduled to be held on May 11. According to Pakistani news channel Geo News, Ali Haider was campaigning when he was kidnapped and has been injured. Gilani has now reached...  

Latif to move court against Ashraf's election as PCB chief

Karachi: Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has said that he would challenge the manner in which Zaka Ashraf was elected Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman under the new Constitution by filing a petition in the High Court. "After my first petition, the PCB introduced a few amendments to its constitution. However, it is not as democratic as it should be. There are loopholes [in the new constitution] which I want...  

Pak elections: Taliban plan to carry out suicide attacks

Islamabad: Pakistan's Taliban plan to carry out suicide bombings during Saturday's election in a bid to undermine the poll, according to a letter from the head of the group. The letter to the Taliban spokesman, which was obtained by Reuters, calls for attacks in several parts of the country, to disrupt "the system of infidels which is called democracy". More details awaited. ...  

Live: Pak aircraft to land at 5.30 pm to take back Sanaullah's body

Chandigarh: 4.20 pm: Pakistan aircraft would land at 5:25 pm. Pakistani officials say it will take off within 10 minutes of landing provided all airport clearances are done on time. 2:46 pm: India grants Pakistan clearance for special flight to Chandigarh to take back mortal remains of Sanaullah Haq. 1:34 pm: MoS External Affairs Preneet Kaur says, "We heard the news this morning. Sympathies with Sanaullah's family. Indian government gave...  

We took all measures to save Sanaullah Haq: Govt

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday expressed grief over the death of Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah Haq in a Chandigarh hospital. Sanaullah dies on Thursday morning, a week after he was attacked in a Jammu jail by a fellow inmate. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said, "We tried to take all necessary measures to save Sanaullah. In touch with the Pakistan authorities. Will make all arrangements...  

Sanaullah's body will be handed over to Pak: Shinde

New Delhi: The body of Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah Haq, who succumbed to injuries in a Chandigarh hospital on Thursday, will be handed over to Pakistan. "We will hand over the body to Pakistan," Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said. Shinde said the Ministry of External Affairs is coordinating with the Pakistani authorities to complete the formalities to send back his body home. "Once the formalities are done, we will hand...  

Pak: Supporters gather at hospital as doctors say Imran Khan is stable

Lahore: As Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan continues to remain hospitalised after falling off a forklift that was raising him and three bodyguards to a stage in Lahore on Tuesday, supporters have been gathering outside the hospital with flowers and posters to show support to the cricketer-turned-politician. Meanwhile, doctors have refuted reports that Khan's skull was fractured in the incident and have said that he is expected to soon...  

Sanaullah Haq death: Pakistan seeks international inquiry

New Delhi: Following the death of Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah Haq in a Chandigarh hospital on Thursday morning, Pakistan High Commissioner Manzoor Ali Memon said he has requested the Government of India for an international probe into the matter. Sanaullah was attacked by his fellow Indian inmate in Jammu's Kot Bhalwal Jail on May 3. He was thereafter airlifted to PGIMER, Chandigarh, where was in a "deep coma" and on ventilator...  

Pak prisoner Sanaullah Haq dies in Chandigarh hospital

Chandigarh: Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah passed away at 6:30 am on Thursday at PGIMER, Chandigarh due to multiple organ failure, sources said. Sanaullah was injured in a scuffle with another inmate in the high security Kot Bhalwal jail in Jammu on May 3. "The patient was brought in a brain dead condition and died this morning due to multiple organ failure," a hospital spokesperson said. Pakistan High Commission Spokesperson Manzoor Memon...  

SC raps J&K over lack of foresight in Sanaullah attack

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday frowned on the failure of the Jammu and Kashmir government to anticipate the possibility of Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah being attacked in jail in the wake of the death of Sarabjit Singh after being assaulted in a Lahore jail. "You must have visualized that if something has happened in Pakistan, you should have taken precautions. You cannot allow rule of law to be compromised....  

Zaka Ashraf's appointment as PCB chairman challenged

Islamabad: A former member of the PCB's board of governors filed a petition in Lahore High Court on Wednesday against the election of Zaka Ashraf as the new Pakistan Cricket Board chairman. Mohammad Anwar said in his petition that "unbridled powers are conferred upon the patron for the appointment of the chairman without following the open and transparent selection process." The PCB's 11-member board of governors earlier chose Ashraf after...  

Pak: White tiger used by Nawaz Sharif's party as poll prop dies

Islamabad: A white tiger being used by the PML-N in its election campaign in Pakistan, died on because of prolonged exposure to heat, according to media reports on Wednesday. The white tiger had been spotted at rallies addressed by Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif. The tiger was brought unconscious to the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Lahore on Tuesday evening. Veterinarians there tried to...  

Pak bans ACs to ease power crisis, issues new dress code

Islamabad: Grappling with power outages across the country, the Pakistan government on Wednesday banned the use of air conditioners in its offices from May 15 and introduced a "summer dress code" for employees. Caretaker Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso decided to impose the ban in all government departments and offices, an official statement said. Khoso directed authorities to introduce a new dress code for government employees to help them...