Blaze News - Pakistan

Jeffrey Epstein's accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell refused on Monday to answer questions from a US congressional committee, invoking her legal right against self-incrimination, lawmakers said. Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking, was subpoenaed to testify before the House Oversight Committee to discuss her relations with the disgraced financier. Republican committee chairman James Comer said Maxwell had invoked her right to not incriminate herself, guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution. "As expected, Ghislaine Maxwell took the Fifth and refused to answer any questions," Comer told reporters. "This is obviously very disappointing." "We had many questions to ask about the crimes she and Epstein committed as well as questions about potential co-conspirators," he said. Maxwell's lawyers told the House panel that the former British socialite was prepared to testify only if she was first granted clemency b...

A key development emerged on Monday in the Gul Plaza deadly inferno case as four eyewitnesses recorded their statements before the Judicial Magistrate (South), Asim Aslam, describing the cause that led to the fire which claimed 80 lives on January 17. During the hearing, three salesmen and a 13-year-old student testified before the magistrate. The eyewitnesses were identified as Aryan, Talha, Waheed and Hamza. In his statement, 13-year-old Aryan told the court that he had gone to meet his friend Huzayfa at his father’s shop on the evening of the incident. He said Huzayfa was alone at the shop and was playing with matchsticks, adding that he had two matchboxes with him. Aryan stated that he remained at the shop until around 8:30pm before leaving to play at his father’s shop, where his friend Samad also died in the fire. He further testified that when he returned around 10pm to say goodbye, Huzayfa was still playing with matchsticks, which ignited the fire. He said neighbouring ...

A strike call by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday failed to gain traction in Islamabad, as daily life remained largely unaffected across the federal capital. Business activities and public services continued as usual, with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) proceeding with its weekly Sunday bazaars as scheduled. Although public life remained operational, the Islamabad district administration took precautionary measures by suspending metro bus services, anticipating potential protests. This decision, however, caused inconvenience to some commuters. Despite PTI’s announcement to observe February 8 as a “Black Day,” transport terminals remained open, and traffic flowed normally across major roads in the city. Read More: PTI strike sees mixed response across K-P amid Feb 8 protest call Police personnel were deployed along key highways, and Safe City cameras monitored important routes, including Faizabad, Club Road, and Srinagar Highway. Authorities reported no incidents of roa...

The vibrant colours of festivity and devotion once again swept through Sehwan, the town that houses the revered shrine of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar (RA). From streets lined with vendors to humble homes, the spirit of the saint’s 774th urs infused the air, drawing hundreds of thousands of devotees from across Pakistan and abroad. Dance, devotion, and trance rituals formed the heartbeat of the celebrations, while sports, literary events, and musical concerts reverberated through the town. At the centre of it all stood Qalandar’s shrine, bathed in night-time illuminations that lit up the skies. Langars offering free meals, milk, water, and soft drinks ran simultaneously across the town, welcoming Muslims and Hindus alike. حضرت لعل شہباز قلندرؒ کے 774ویں عرس مبارک کے موقع پر تمام عقیدت مندوں کو دلی مبارکباد۔ آپؒ کی تعلیمات محبت، رواداری، امن اور انسانیت کی خدمت کا لازوال پیغام ہیں۔ آج کے دور میں ہمیں قلندرؒ کی تعلیمات کو اپنی زندگیوں کا حصہ بنا کر معاشرے میں اتحاد اور بھائی چارے کو فروغ ...

When Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates and one of the most influential figures in global finance, warns that the United States is approaching a phase of internal collapse, it is an elite admission that the system, which once appeared self-correcting, stable and permanent, is now struggling to reproduce its own legitimacy -- at home and increasingly abroad. For much of the post-war era, America’s domestic authority and global standing reinforced one another. Institutional coherence underwrote international credibility, while global dominance masked internal fracture. However, that alignment is now breaking down. As Washington’s ability to command consent within its own borders erodes, so too does the moral and political authority it once projected outward. In a recent essay drawing on his 2021 book Principles for Dealing With the Changing World Order, Dalio argues that the United States is moving from “Phase Five” of a long historical cycle defined by economic stress, institu...

A fire broke out at a factory in Karachi's Landhi Export Processing Zone on Friday night, prompting a swift response from emergency services, government officials, and rescue teams. Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister for Rehabilitation Gianchand Esrani said in a statement that the Central Command and Control of Rescue 1122 was immediately notified, and fire and rescue teams, along with ambulances and fire brigade trucks, rushed to the site. Efforts to control the blaze are currently ongoing. “Ten fire brigade vehicles and two snorkel units are actively engaged in combating the fire using modern firefighting equipment,” Esrani said, adding that rescue teams were continuously working to protect lives and property. He also directed teams to maintain rapid and coordinated operations at the scene. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said fire tenders and snorkels were present on ground to tackle the situation with additional water bowsers also present. Another big challenge for our brave fire figh...