Blaze News - Pakistan

The federal government on Friday reduced the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs2.20 and Rs1.50 per litre, respectively, for the next three days, until August 10. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Petroleum, the price of petrol has been fixed at Rs327.62 per litre, while HSD will now cost Rs380.86 per litre.  The latest revision comes a day after the government decreased petrol by Rs3.19 and HSD by Rs1.50 per litre for Aug 7. READ: Govt reduces petrol price by Rs3.19, HSD by Rs1.50 for August 7 On July 17, the government introduced a daily fuel price review mechanism amid volatility in global oil prices following renewed hostilities in the Middle East. The daily fuel prices are based on a seven-day average of international market rates to align with international standards. According to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25, petroleum products constitute one of the country's largest import categories, making the economy highly vulner...

A large protest demonstration against unrest and in support of sustainable peace was held under the auspices of Swat Awami Pasawon at Nishat Chowk in Mingora city of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Swat district on Friday. The protest came days after at least 15 people, including six police personnel, were martyred and several others were wounded in a suicide attack outside Kabal police station in Swat district on Sunday. Thousands of people from various schools of thought took part in the rally. Protesters carried placards, banners and black flags while the entire area echoed with the slogan, ‘We want peace on our own land.’ Participants demanded an end to insecurity in Swat, the establishment of lasting peace and firm protection for the public. Raising strong slogans against terrorism and disorder, they made clear that the people of Swat would no longer accept any form of unrest. Read: Suicide attack outside police station in Swat leaves 15 martyred, including six polic...

Spain's Civil Guard is investigating the possibility of another mass migrant crossing into the North African enclave of Ceuta on Aug 15, following the circulation of calls on social media encouraging a collective attempt. According to Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE), an internal Civil Guard assessment based on publicly available information concluded that the online campaign is "real and documented" across Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, where groups linked to the calls collectively count between 400,000 and 422,560 members, although authorities cautioned that "those figures should be interpreted carefully". The assessment said the risk of an attempted crossing is "real, but its magnitude is uncertain," adding that preventive measures by Moroccan authorities and reinforced Spanish border controls will be key factors. 🇪🇸 🇲🇦 🇪🇺 What was behind the migrant rush to Spain's Ceuta? An unprecedented 72,000 people crossed in...

The police and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers clashed near the Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Wednesday as the party staged a protest demanding the release of its founder, Imran Khan, on the third anniversary of his arrest. Authorities sealed key roads with shipping containers to prevent demonstrators from reaching the venue, triggering traffic disruptions and confrontations that ended with tear gas shelling and multiple arrests. Imran has remained in prison since August 2023 after his conviction in a corruption case and has since faced multiple convictions and prosecutions in other cases, including allegations relating to corruption, disclosure of official secrets and marriage laws. He and his party reject all allegations, maintaining that the cases are politically motivated and intended to keep him out of politics. Police blocked roads leading to the KPC and surrounding areas by placing containers at key intersections, causing severe traffic congestion and making access ...

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday said the government would complete its constitutional five-year term, asserting that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would remain in office for the full tenure. Speaking to reporters in Lahore, Naqvi dismissed speculation about the government's future, saying the current system was "going nowhere". "The government will complete its five-year constitutional term," he said. "Shehbaz Sahib will remain prime minister for five years. People can say whatever they want or interpret my remarks however they like, but he will complete his term as prime minister." Read: Governance system has collapsed: Naqvi Responding to a question about his absence from a cabinet meeting and criticism of his performance, Naqvi said he was answerable only to the prime minister. “I would request the prime minister to conduct an audit of all ministries and evaluate the performance of each ministry. Whatever the results are, ...

Amnesty International on Tuesday called on the federal government to release Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder and former premier Imran Khan ahead of the completion of three full years in incarceration. Imran has been imprisoned since August 5, 2023, currently serving a sentence at Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. In addition, he faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) related to the protests of May 9, 2023. On the eve of the completion of his three years, Amnesty International South Asia Acting Regional Director Isabelle Lassee noted that the authorities had "systematically denied" Imran the right to a fair trial, subjected him to prolonged solitary confinement and limited his access to medical care and visitation rights. She further added that Imran not been allowed to meet his family for more than eight months and his vision had reportedly deteriorated significantly. PAKISTAN: Ahead of the...

Voting will be held on Tuesday in LA-27 Kotla and at 51 polling stations in LA-28 Lachhrat constituencies, where polling was deferred after adverse weather conditions prevented election material from reaching the stations in time during the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections on August 2. The Election Commission has completed arrangements for the polling with heightened security measures in place. Personnel from the Pakistan Army, Rangers and police will be deployed at polling stations to ensure a peaceful and orderly voting process. Polling at the affected stations could not take place on Sunday as severe weather disrupted the transportation of election material. The Election Commission subsequently rescheduled the voting for Tuesday. In LA-27 Kotla, the electoral contest is being closely watched with the main battle expected among IPP candidate Sardar Tabarak Ali, PML-N’s Noreen Arif and PPP’s Sardar Javed Ayub. The constituency has 107,061 registe...

Pakistan People's Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday said that the "countdown for the federal government had begun" as he lashed out at the federal coalition partner for alleged rigging in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections. Senior leaders from both parties have held competing press conferences as rigging accusations have intensified. The PPP accused the federal government of interfering in the elections through development announcements and misuse of official resources, while the PML-N alleged the PPP was itself attempting to manipulate the vote, claiming ballot papers had been recovered from the residence of a rival candidate. In a series of posts and video messages on X, Bilawal said the recent elections were not transparent and fair but were "rigged elections, these were bullet elections, these were killer elections, these were bloody elections". He added: "Despite all this, you have made the PPP victorious on nine parliamentary s...

Rescuers on Sunday found the body of celebrated Nepali climber Nirmal Purja, who, along with nine mountaineers, was killed during an expedition in northern Pakistan earlier this week, an official confirmed to Anadolu. Purja's body was found at approximately 5,700 meters (18,700 feet) on Broad Peak -- three days after he and other members of his team were reported missing following an avalanche, said Ayaz Shigri, secretary general of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, the country's official mountaineering body. Read More: Nirmal Purja among 10 dead in avalanche Shigri said that seven bodies and parts of an eighth body had so far been found, while a search operation would continue for the recovery of the remaining two bodies. Purja was leading a 10-member expedition that included Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy of Oman; Sohail Sakhi of Pakistan; Wang Zhong of China; Mallory Geis of the US; and Pur Bahadur Gurung Yukta, Kili Pemba Sherpa, Nima Sherpa, Nawang Thindu Sherpa and ...

The Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation (PCMLF) has called for a judicial investigation into the devastating methane gas explosion at the Sorange coalfield near Quetta that claimed the lives of 36 miners, urging the federal and Balochistan governments to undertake comprehensive reforms to improve safety standards across Pakistan's mining sector. Addressing a press conference at the Quetta Press Club on Saturday, federation leaders expressed profound grief over the loss of the miners, describing the incident as a tragic reminder of the hazardous conditions faced daily by thousands of coal workers. They extended condolences to the bereaved families and offered prayers for the deceased, many of whom were the sole breadwinners of their households. The labour leaders said repeated mining disasters expose serious shortcomings in the enforcement of safety regulations, adding that expressions of sympathy alone are insufficient without meaningful action to protect workers. They ...

The protesting Jammu and Kashmir Awami Action Committee on Saturday expressed its willingness to engage with the proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission as it responded to a letter written by Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on the initiative. The development came after the JAAC wrote a letter to Bilawal on July 14, to which the PPP chairman responded by reiterating his proposal to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission with the consent of all stakeholders. In response to the letter, the JAAC conveyed its willingness to consider the proposed commission as a possible way forward to address the recent violence and political crisis in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. “I have received JKJAAC’s response to my letter proposing the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, together with their accompanying proposal,” Bilawal said in a post on X. I have received JKJAAC’s response to my letter proposing the establishment ...

Coalition partners in the federal government, the Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, on Saturday continued their war of words, which began during the Azad Jammu and Kashmir election campaign, with leaders from both sides escalating their rhetoric by targeting each other's leadership and past governments. The two parties, allies in the federal coalition government, have been exchanging accusations since the PML-N emerged victorious in the elections in AJK's Mirpur division. The PPP has alleged that the PML-N rigged the polls in Mirpur and has demanded fresh voting in the constituency. With the second phase of the AJK elections set to be held on Sunday in nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad division, political temperatures rose further as senior PML-N leaders responded to the PPP's allegations of electoral manipulation, rejecting claims of rigging not only in the AJK polls but also in the 2024 general elections. The latest exchanges marked a furth...

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday directed the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to provide renowned journalist Asad Toor with the details of the allegations against him in connection with a summons issued by the agency over allegedly spreading "fake information". The NCCIA on Wednesday issued a notice to Toor, directing him to appear before the agency in connection with an inquiry into the alleged dissemination of "false information". According to a notice issued by the NCCIA Cybercrime Reporting Centre, and also shared by the journalist on his X account, Toor was summoned under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in connection with the inquiry. The directions came during the hearing of Toor's petition challenging the NCCIA notice. Advocate Ataullah Kundi, appearing on behalf of the petitioner, argued that his client could not respond to the allegations because they had not been informed of their nature. ...

Talks between mediators and Hamas leaders in Cairo on implementing a US-brokered Gaza peace plan have made rare progress, sources close to the negotiations said on Thursday, although an Israeli official said the proposed terms did not meet Israel's demands. Israeli strikes killed at least six Palestinians in Gaza, including two children, on Thursday, according to medics. A Hamas official and a diplomat involved in the Cairo discussions described the talks as "positive" and said they were making progress. The Hamas official said the developments would depend on Israel's response and whether they could lead to a broader agreement. An Israeli official, speaking anonymously, said Israel had rejected the proposal. "Israel demands the complete disarmament of Hamas, including the removal of weapons from Gaza and the complete demilitarisation of the Strip as a precondition for any process," the official said. Also Read: Over 60,000 children orphaned in Gaz...

Pakistan’s national hockey team showcased a masterclass, securing a commanding 3-1 victory over South Korea in a high-profile match on Thursday that marked a historic milestone for the country’s national sport. The match at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium in the federal capital began as a cagey, defensive affair. Both sides tested each other's backlines in the opening 15 minutes, leaving the first quarter entirely scoreless. However, the Green-shirts shifted into top gear in the second quarter, deploying a relentless attacking strategy that quickly rattled the Korean defence. Pakistan broke the deadlock in the 21st minute when drag-flick specialist Muhammad Sufyan Khan capitalised on a penalty corner, firing a powerful strike past the Korean goalkeeper to give the hosts a well-deserved lead. South Korea fought back just before the long whistle, as Young Ji-hun converted a penalty corner in the 29th minute, temporarily silencing the home crowd by levelling the...

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency on Wednesday issued a notice to renowned journalist Asad Ali Toor, directing him to appear before the agency in connection with an inquiry into the alleged dissemination of "false information". According to a notice issued by the NCCIA Cybercrime Reporting Centre, and also shared by the journalist on his X account, Toor was summoned under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in connection with the inquiry. The inquiry pertained to the alleged dissemination of false or fake information under Section 26A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), 2016. 🚨🚨@NCCIAOFFICIAL summoned me on this Friday, 31 July 2026 on the complaint of the state. چشم نم جان شوریدہ کافی نہیں تہمت عشق پوشیدہ کافی نہیں آج بازار میں پا بہ جولاں چلو دست افشاں چلو مست و رقصاں چلو خاک بر سر چلو خوں بداماں چلو راہ تکتا ہے سب شہر جاناں چلو حاکم شہر بھی… pic.twitter.com/bUFJtXxS9N — Asad Ali Toor (@AsadAToor) July 2...

The federal government on Wednesday decreased the price of petrol by Rs0.75 while increasing the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs2.24 for July 30. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Petroleum, the price of petrol has been fixed at Rs335.06 per litre, while HSD will now cost Rs390.62 per litre. The latest revision comes a day after the government increased the prices of petrol and HSD by Rs1.63 and Rs1.55 per litre, respectively. READ: Govt announces Rs1.63 increase in petrol, Rs1.55 in diesel price for July 29 On July 17, the government introduced a daily fuel price review mechanism amid volatility in global oil prices following renewed hostilities in the Middle East. The daily fuel prices are based on a seven-day average of international market rates to align with international standards. During July, petroleum prices were revised several times. Following multiple revisions, petrol prices recorded a cumulative increase of more than Rs20 per litre du...

Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon strongly lashed out at the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on Tuesday and accused it of rigging in the first phase of the polls for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. Reacting to the remarks of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, he said the saying "adding insult to injury" aptly applied to the PML-N He said that the PML-N's theft of the innocent Kashmiris' right to vote was evident for everyone to see. He said that massive rigging took place, weapons were openly displayed, and a PPP worker was martyred. Instead of expressing condolences and regret over the incident, CM Maryam chose not to do so. He added that she spoke with the arrogance that comes with power. Memon said that every child in Pakistan knew how the PML-N came to power through the Form 47 mandate. He said that the people of Punjab gave the party...

At least three people, including a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), were killed, one truck driver was injured, and six labourers were abducted in a series of separate armed attacks in the Barkhan, Turbat and Chagai districts of Balochistan on Tuesday, officials said. According to Barkhan Superintendent of Police Abdul Haq, DSP Rakhni Murid Bugti was on a routine patrol on Tuesday evening when unidentified armed assailants opened fire on his police vehicle near Khatta Check Post in Barkhan district. The senior police officer was martyred in the attack. Following the incident, heavy contingents of police, the Frontier Corps (FC), the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and other security agencies rushed to the area and launched a search operation to track down the attackers. In another incident, armed men intercepted a vehicle carrying seven labourers in the Kalatak area, within the jurisdiction of Sadar Police Station in Turbat, the district headquarters of Kech. The at...

Pakistan on Monday condemned recent drone attacks carried out against Saudi Arabia amid the recent resumption and escalation of hostilities in the Middle East that have also involved the kingdom and Yemen's Houthis now. "Such provocative attacks pose a grave threat to peace and stability across the entire region," the Foreign Office said in a statement. It added that Pakistan "stands in solidarity with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and reaffirms its strong and unwavering support for the Kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peace and prosperity". 🔈 PR No. 1️⃣9️⃣1️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣ Pakistan Condemns Drone Attacks Against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/iL1ymildlq — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 27, 2026 "Pakistan has taken, and will continue to take, all possible steps to support efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace, security and stability in the region,...