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13 SECURITY PERSONNEL MARTYRED IN MIR ALI SUICIDE ATTACK: ISPR
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Sunday, 29 June, 2025 | 3 Muharram, 1447
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MILITARY’S MEDIA WING SAYS 14 KHAWARIJ ALSO ‘SENT TO HELL’ BY SECURITY FORCES IN ENSUING SANITISATION OPERATIONS
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 351 | 8 Pages | Karachi Edition
SAYS TWO CHILDREN AND A WOMAN WERE SEVERELY INJURED IN THE TRAGIC AND BARBARIC INCIDENT
SECURITY FORCES, IN STEP WITH THE NATION, REMAIN STEADFAST IN THEIR RESOLVE TO ERADICATE INDIAN-SPONSORED TERRORISM FROM THE COUNTRY: ISPR
Facilitators, perpetrators of terrorism to be brought to justice: Field Marshal Munir RAWALPINDI
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RAWALPINDI
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S many as 13 Pakistan Army soldiers were martyred when an explosive-laden vehicle of the Indian-sponsored terrorists rammed into a security forces vehicle in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) North Waziristan district, said Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement on Saturday. According to the military’s media wing, a vehicle-borne suicide attacker targeted a security convoy in the district’s Mir Ali area, before being intercepted by the convoy’s lead vehicle, foiling his nefarious design. However, in their desperation, the
ISPR said the explosive-laden vehicle was rammed by the “Indian-sponsored khwarjis” into one of the vehicles of the leading group. “Resultantly, 13 brave sons of soil embraced Shahadat. In this tragic and barbaric incident, three innocent civilians, including two children and a woman also got severely injured,” reads the statement. The martyred personnel were identified as follows: Subedar Zahid Iqbal, 45, from Karak; Havildar Sohrab Khan, 39, from Naseerabad; Havildar Mian Yousaf, 41, from Buner; Naik Khitab Shah, 34, from Lower Dir; Lance Naik Ismail, 32, from Naseerabad; Sepoy Rohail, 30, from Mirpurkhas; Sepoy Muhammad Ramzan, 33, from Dera Ghazi Khan; Sepoy Nawab, 30, from Quetta; Sepoy
‘Judges’ transfer case’: Five IHC justices challenge SC verdict
Zubair Ahmed, 24, from Naseerabad; Sepoy Muhammad Sahki, 31, from Dera Ghazi Khan; Sepoy Hashim Abbasi, 20, from Abbotabad; Sepoy Muddasir Ejaz, 25, from Layyah and Sepoy Manzar Ali, 23, from Mardan. In the ensuing sanitization opera-
tions, 14 khawarij were “sent to hell” by the security forces. The statement added that operations in the area would continue and “the perpetrators of this heinous and cowardly act will be brought to justice,” the ISPR said.
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Tarar dubs Swat drowning incident ‘death’ of PTI’s governance in KP
ISLAMABAD
ISLAMABAD
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Five judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday challenged the Supreme Court (SC) verdict in the judges’ transfer case. In an intra-court appeal filed in the SC through their counsel Munir A Malik, the judges prayed to the court to declare the verdict given by a five-member constitutional bench in the case null and void. A five-member constitutional bench of the Supreme Court (SC), headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, had on June 19, 2025 declared the transfer of judges to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) constitutional. The bench pronounced the short verdict by three judges to two. However, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Shakeel Ahmad differed with the majority decision. Earlier, the bench reserved its decision on the petitions filed against the transfer of judges to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) after the lawyers concluded their arguments. During the hearing, counsel for the former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan, Idrees Ashraf, said that the judges were transferred on political grounds, which was unconstitutional. He further said there existed a conflict between Article 175 and Article 200 of the constitution. He argued that a judge could not be transferred permanently to fill a vacant seat. Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar remarked that the Judicial Commission did not have any power to transfer a judge. Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan asked whether any judge had been transferred under Article 200 in the past. Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan replied there existed no such precedent.
Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff, on Saturday assured the nation that the blood of every innocent Pakistani will always be avenged, and any attempt to undermine Pakistan’s internal stability will be met with swift and decisive retribution, according to state media. The field marshal gave assurance as he visited the Corps Headquarters Peshawar on Saturday, where he was briefed in detail on the prevailing security situation and ongoing counter-terrorism operations, Radio Pakistan reported. During the visit, the field marshal also attended the funeral of Mir Ali attack Shuhada at Bannu Garrison and visited the injured at Bannu CMH,
state broadcaster PTV News reported. The Chief of Army Staff paid rich tribute to the unwavering courage and resilience of Pakistan’s security forces, who continue to confront and neutralize the Indian-sponsored Fitna-alKhawarij with exemplary valour. He reaffirmed that the people of Pakistan stand united in their resolve to eradicate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations until the threat is decisively eliminated from the country. Reiterating the state’s uncompromising stance, the Chief of Army Staff vowed that all facilitators, abettors, and perpetrators of terrorism will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice without exception and at all costs, and the face of the true perpetrator of terrorism in the region will be exposed to the entire world.
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Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has said that the tragic drowning of tourists in Swat marked the death of the governance system established during the 12-year rule of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). “This is not the death of tourists; rather, it is the death of PTI’s governance system,” the information minister said while addressing a news conference, along with State Minister for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik. Minister Tarar held the PTI government in KPK responsible for the tragedy, which is mourned by the entire nation. He said despite the availability of modern equipment in 2025, the provincial government had failed to rescue stranded tourists, which shows the quality of infrastructure, which has been compromised to the lowest level during the PTI government. The minister expressed deep sorrow over the Swat incident, where stranded tourists, including women and children, could not be rescued despite being visible and only a few hundred feet away from safety. A single rescue attempt was
made after hours had passed, using a makeshift boat, he lamented, asking where was the helicopter used by the PTI founder and the KP Chief Minister in their travels. Instead of owning responsibility, the provincial government suspended a deputy commissioner, he said, adding, “The real accountability lies with the chief minister, who refused to provide camps for the victims.” “The irony is that while dead bodies were being recovered, the CM had the audacity to say, it’s not my job to provide camps.’ If that is not your job, then tell us what is,” he said. “Is it not your job to save lives or maintain law and order or restore Lady Reading Hospital or to estab-
lish universities?” he said, asking whether the job of KP Chief Minister is to attack Islamabad, humiliate people, and follow orders from Adiala jail. “I want to ask the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who has set up a camp office in Adiala Jail whether the people of KP give you a mandate to work from Adiala,” he asked, comparing it to the work-from-home routine during the COVID days. He demanded to know why the PDMA, which receives millions from the provincial budget, did not perform. “If you cannot run rescue operations, at least have the decency to remain silent. Or just shut down the PDMA.”
Swat River Flood: Heads roll as death toll rises to 11 SWAT
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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah on Saturday visited Swat to oversee the ongoing rescue operations following the tragic flash flood in the Swat River.
The flood, which occurred near the Mingora Bypass, resulted in multiple casualties and left many trapped in the rising waters. So far, 11 bodies have been recovered. During the visit, the chief secretary announced a compensation of Rs1.5 million per victim
12 dead in Punjab rain incidents
LAHORE: Heavy monsoon rains and strong winds have wreaked havoc across Punjab, resulting in 12 deaths and 39 injuries due to various rain-related incidents. According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the incidents, reported between June 25 and June 27, primarily involved roof and wall collapses across multiple districts. A PDMA spokesperson confirmed that 25 incidents were recorded during this period, with significant damage reported in districts such as Bahawalnagar, Faisalabad, and Khanewal. The majority of casualties stemmed from collapsing structures, exacerbated by the ongoing monsoon spell, which is expected to continue until July 1. staff report
for the families of the deceased. He confirmed that 58 out of the 85 individuals stranded in the
river had been successfully rescued, while search operations are still underway to find others.
Rains, floods claimed 19 lives in KP so far: PDMA PESHAWAR
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Torrential rains, flash floods, strong winds and landslides have so far claimed at least 19 lives and left six injured across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the past 48 hours, according to a preliminary report issued by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Saturday. The report details a grim picture of destruction
caused by extreme weather events across several districts, including Swat, Abbottabad, Charsadda, Malakand, Shangla, Lower Dir, and Torghar. Among the deceased are six men, five women, and eight children, while the injured include three men and three women. Swat emerged as the worsthit district, accounting for 13 deaths and all reported injuries.
26 PTI MPAs suspended for disrupting Punjab CM’s assembly speech LAHORE
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The Speaker of the Punjab Assembly suspended 26 opposition lawmakers for 15 days on Saturday after their protest during Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s presence in the House. The opposition MPs had disrupted the session on Friday by chanting slogans, raising placards, and causing a disturbance. Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan condemned the actions, calling them a violation of assembly rules and ordering disciplinary action. “This House cannot be allowed to descend into chaos,” the speaker stated, emphasizing the need to maintain order. In response, the opposition criticized the suspension as undemocratic and vowed to continue their protests. A PTI leader remarked, “Even if you expel them for 15 years, the war against the government will continue.” On the other hand, PML-N lawmakers supported the suspension, calling it necessary to maintain the decorum of the assembly.
PTI questions verdict on reserved seats sans deciding fate of 26th constitutional amend ISLAMABAD
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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has described the Supreme Court’s constitutional bench decision as highly disappointing and a grave miscarriage of justice, arguing that the verdict on PTI’s reserved seats should have been delivered only after deciding the fate of the most “contentious 26th constitutional amendment,” stressing that a nation plunged into darkness when justice is denied. However, PTI leaders made it clear that it would be wishful thinking and living in a fool’s paradise to believe that PTI candidates would betray the party or jump ship to join any other political group because these are the individuals who have endured all oppression and suppression but have remained loyal to PTI and its unlawfully incarcerated Patron-InChief Imran Khan. Speaking at a press conference alongside Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Shibli Faraz and PTI Women’s President Kanwal Shauzab, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan stated that the apex court, in a historic majority ruling of 8-5, decided in PTI’s favor, declaring the party eligible for a share of reserved seats in the national and provincial assemblies. However, he expressed his shock that, all of a sudden, a bench was constituted without following the due and proper legal procedures, solely to overturn the SC’s majority decision through a review petition. PTI Chairman questioned the urgency of deciding the case, stating that the SC’s constitutional bench should have delayed the proceedings of such an important matter until the mystery surrounding the highly controversial 26th Constitutional Amendment was resolved. Gohar noted that PTI was doing its utmost to unite the nation and stand by the country. However, the spirit of injustice continued to haunt them, as the shadow of Qazi Faez Isa still loomed large. He remarked that attaining justice today had become even more difficult than it was in the 1990s. PTI Chairman stated that the contentious decision had caused great injustice and widespread disenchantment among the people, adding that all limits were being crossed due to deep-seated hatred for PTI—a trend that, he warned, would have serious consequences for the country. He recalled that their MNAs had already been officially notified, and since no one had challenged those notifications so far, they still remained hopeful that these reserved seats would be returned to them. PTI chairman stated that the party had secured 80 seats, despite the broad daylight robbery on February 8 aimed at stealing their mandate. He emphasized that all elected members had submitted their affidavits to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) under the banner of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC). He further noted that no notification in the National Assembly had ever been challenged. Gohar clarified that there should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that all their MNAs were independents, having already affiliated themselves with the SIC.