Author: Ayan Achakzai

Swat IED Blast Targets Police Convoy Escorting Diplomats SWAT – An improvised explosive device (IED) blast struck a police mobile on Jahanabad Road, Malam Jabba, on Sunday. The attack, which targeted a police convoy escorting diplomats from 12 countries, resulted in the martyrdom of one policeman and injuries to three others. Fortunately, the diplomats remained unharmed and were safely returned to Islamabad, as confirmed by the Foreign Office. The convoy, which included representatives from countries such as Indonesia, Portugal, Kazakhstan, Iran, and Russia, was in the region at the invitation of a local chamber of commerce. Immediate Aftermath of the…

Supreme Court Declares PTI Eligible for Reserved Seats in Detailed Verdict ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued a detailed verdict, confirming that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) remains eligible for reserved seats. The 70-page judgment, written by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, came after recent concerns raised by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. He had questioned the implementation of the Supreme Court’s July 12 short order following amendments to the Election Act 2017. The Supreme Court clarified that the lack of an electoral symbol, such as PTI’s revoked “bat” symbol, does not impact a party’s right to contest elections.…

Lt Gen Asim Malik Appointed New ISI Chief ISLAMABAD – Lt Gen Asim Malik has officially been appointed as the new Director General (DG) of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). He will take charge on September 30, replacing Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum, who has served in this position since 2021. The announcement came via a press release from the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) on Monday. Lt Gen Asim Malik is currently serving as the Adjutant General at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, a role that has given him valuable leadership experience ahead of his new responsibilities as the head of Pakistan’s…

Bridging the Digital Divide in Pakistan: A Story of Two Worlds Imagine this: you’re sitting at a café with two friends. One, Ali, is from a big city like Karachi, with easy access to the internet. The other, Zara, lives in a rural village in Balochistan, where getting online is still a distant dream. Their lives couldn’t be more different. And the thing is, this isn’t just about personal preferences or lifestyle choices—it’s about access. Access to the internet, to information, and to opportunities. This gap is what we call the “digital divide”, and it’s becoming a bigger issue in…

Early Voting Begins in Key States as Harris and Trump Focus on Divisive Issues Early voting kicked off in crucial states ahead of November’s presidential election, with both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump campaigning on key issues. While Harris centered her message on abortion rights, Trump raised concerns about the legitimacy of mail-in ballots. Harris Campaigns on Abortion Rights At several campaign stops, Vice President Kamala Harris emphasized the importance of abortion rights, rallying support around protecting women’s reproductive freedoms. Harris has positioned abortion as a core issue in her campaign, pointing out the growing restrictions in some states. For…

Negotiations with IPPs Progressing, Says Power Minister Awais Leghari ISLAMABAD – Power Minister Awais Leghari shared encouraging updates on ongoing negotiations with independent power producers (IPPs). Speaking to the Senate Standing Committee on Power, he noted that while relief would not be immediate, progress in talks could lead to a gradual reduction in electricity prices. Key Review of IPP Agreements The government’s task force, led by Power Minister Leghari, has been carefully reviewing public and private power projects. This review focuses on key areas like operation and maintenance (O&M) costs and the rate of return on equity (ROE). Importantly, no…

Banking Ban for Non-Filers Approved by PM Shehbaz Sharif ISLAMABAD – In a major policy shift, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved drastic measures to enforce tax compliance, including a ban on all banking and financial transactions for non-filers of tax returns. These measures are part of the FBR Indigenous Transformation Plan, which aims to tackle key challenges that have hindered revenue growth in Pakistan. FBR’s Transformation Plan and Key Measures The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), under Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial, briefed the premier on the plan’s salient features. The plan is designed to reduce the amount of cash…

Iran Summons Afghan Diplomat Over National Anthem Disrespect at Islamic Unity Conference TEHRAN – The Iranian foreign ministry summoned the acting head of Afghanistan’s embassy on Friday after an Afghan official failed to stand during the Iranian national anthem at a conference in Tehran. The incident occurred during an event on Islamic unity, leading to a “strong protest” from Iran over what they deemed “unconventional and unacceptable” behavior. For more on regional diplomatic updates, visit Ground Zero’s International Section. Afghan Official Apologizes, Cites Taliban Ban on Music The Afghan delegate, who was attending the Islamic Unity Conference, apologized following the…

Sindh Suspends Police Officers After Blasphemy Suspect’s Death in Custody KARACHI – Sindh’s Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar informed the provincial assembly on Friday that several police officials, including the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) Mirpurkhas, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), the CIA team of Mirpurkhas, and the Station House Officer (SHO) of Sindhri, were suspended following the death of a blasphemy suspect in police custody. The suspect, identified as Dr. Shah Nawaz, a doctor from Umerkot district, had been accused of sharing blasphemous content on social media and had gone into hiding before the incident occurred. For more…

Donald Trump Claims Jewish-American Voters Could Influence 2024 Election Outcome Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump remarked on Thursday that Jewish-American voters would share responsibility if he loses the 2024 election to Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate. Speaking at the Israeli-American Council National Summit in Washington, Trump expressed concern over trailing Harris among American Jews. For more political updates, visit Ground Zero’s Political News. Trump’s Concerns Over Jewish-American Support During his speech, Trump cited a poll that suggested Harris had garnered 60% support among Jewish-Americans, compared to his lower share of the vote. He argued that if Jewish-American voters…